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Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Performance under Severe Operating Conditions
Author(s) -
Koch S.,
Hendriksen P. V.,
Mogensen M.,
Liu Y.L.,
Dekker N.,
Rietveld B.,
de Haart B.,
Tietz F.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
fuel cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1615-6854
pISSN - 1615-6846
DOI - 10.1002/fuce.200500112
Subject(s) - anode , cathode , degradation (telecommunications) , materials science , solid oxide fuel cell , oxide , fuel cells , hydrogen , operating temperature , hydrogen fuel , voltage , chemical engineering , analytical chemistry (journal) , nuclear engineering , environmental science , chemistry , electrode , electrical engineering , environmental chemistry , metallurgy , organic chemistry , engineering
The performance and degradation of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) were studied under severe operating conditions. The cells studied were manufactured in a small series by ECN, in the framework of the EU funded CORE‐SOFC project. The cells were of the anode‐supported type with a double layer LSM cathode. They were operated at 750 °C or 850 °C in hydrogen with 5% or 50% water at current densities ranging from 0.25 A cm –2 to 1 A cm –2 for periods of 300 hours or more. The area specific cell resistance, corrected for fuel utilisation, ranged between 0.20 Ω cm 2 and 0.34 Ω cm 2 at 850 °C and 520 mV, and between 0.51 Ω cm 2 and 0.92 Ω cm 2 at 750 °C and 520 mV. The degradation of cell performance was found to be low (ranging from 0 to 8%/1,000 hours) at regular operating conditions. Voltage degradation rates of 20 to 40%/1,000 hours were observed under severe operating conditions, depending on the test conditions. Data analysis revealed a critical cell voltage of ca 750 mV, above which the degradation rates were trivial, but below which they were significant. Some cells were also tested using a different procedure to that usually applied at Risø. This gave a different aging behaviour, indicating that the detailed test circumstances may be decisive to the outcome.