Evaluation of Fuel Diversity in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System

Operability of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) on numerous fuels has been widely counted as a leading advantage in literature. In a designed system, however, switching from a fuel to another is not practically a straightforward task as this causes several system performance issues in both dynamic and steady-state modes. In order to demonstrate the system fuel diversity capabilities, these consequences must be well-evaluated by quantifying the characteristic measures for numerous fuel cases and also potential combinations. From this viewpoint, the numerical predictive models play a critical role. This paper aims to investigate the performance of a SOFC system fed by various fuels using a demonstrated system level model. Process configuration and streams results of a real-life SOFC system rig published in literature are used to validate the model. The presented model is capable not only of capturing the system performance measures but also the SOFC internal variable distributions, allowing the multiscale study of fuel switching scenarios. The fuel change impacts on the system are simulated by considering various fuel sources, i.e., natural gas, biogas, and syngas. Moreover, applications of simulated fuel mixtures are assessed. The modelling results show significant concerns about fuel switching in a system in terms of variation of efficiencies, stack internal temperature and current density homogeneity, and environmental issues. Moreover, the results reveal opportunities for multi-fuel design to address the operation and application requirements such as optimisation of the anode off-gas recycling rate and the thermal-to-electrical ratio as well as the system specific greenhouse gases, i.e., g-COx/Wh release

Development of a novel electroless deposited nickel braze for micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cell current collector contacting

© 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jajp.2021.100070A brazing process for the fuel electrode (anode) contacting of a micro-tubular fuel cell is reported. The low-cost, novel, electroless deposited braze suitable for mass production was optimised with respect to material loading and brazing environment. Durable current collector-anode joints were obtained while protecting sensitive solid oxide fuel cell components. It was determined that a minimum braze loading of 20 µm thickness was required to join the current collector at multiple contacts along the interior tube wall. The final brazed current collector design achieved a high peak power density of 0.14 W.cm−2 at 750°C, 2.35 times higher than for the un-brazed design.This research was funded by the EPSRC, grant number EP/L015749/1), through the CDT in Fuel Cells and their Fuels, led by the University of Birmingham.Accepted versio

Qualitätsprodukt Erziehungsberatung. Empfehlungen zu Leistungen, Qualitätsmerkmalen und Kennziffern

Neben einer Beschreibung der Leistung Erziehungs- und Familienberatung - Beratung und Therapie, präventive Angebote und Vernetzungsaktivitäten - werden ihre Qualitätsmerkmale - gegliedert nach Struktur-, Prozess- und Ergebnisqualität - ausführlich dargestellt und Kennziffern zu ihrer quantitativen Erfassung vorgeschlagen. Der Anhang enthält u.a. eine Kurzfassung der vorliegenden Empfehlungen zu Leistungen, Qualitätsmerkmalen und Kennziffern. (DIPF/Autor

Internal current collection and thermofluidynamic enhancement in a microtubular SOFC

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Elsevier in International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, available online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2021.121255 The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.A low-cost, durable and simple internal current collector is presented for microtubular SOFCs (µT-SOFC). The internal design does not require removal of external cell layers, and subsequent loss of active area required to expose the interior electrode for contacting. The brush-like, high surface area current collector device is adapted from heat exchanger turbuliser technology produced by CALGAVIN Ltd. The effectiveness of the hiTRAN® turbuliser as a µT-SOFC current collector is explored and its thermofluidynamic effects on the cell described, as well as coating of the hiTRAN® design to reduce electrical contact resistance. The final design achieved a current density at 0.7 V of 0.38 A.cm and peak power density of 0.27 W.cm , 4.3 times higher than the original design and 3.3 times higher than the state-of-the-art with the same base materials.This work was supported by the Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Fuel Cells and their Fuels, which is part-funded by the EPSRC under contract EP/L015749/1.Accepted versio