Effect of distribution of fuel gas velocity on performance of solid oxide fuel cell

Effect of distribution of fuel gas velocity on performance of SOFC was investigated by experiments and numerical simulations. The fuel gas was supplied to anode-supported cells by two different methods: jet flow and parallel flow, and cell performance was measured at 1000°C as changing H2 flow rate in each method. In the case of the jet flow, the fuel gas jetted out a blow port and impinged on the fuel electrode surface. On the other hand, in the case of the parallel flow, the fuel gas flowed parallel to the fuel electrode surface. As a result, it was found that the cell-voltage in the case of the parallel flow was greater than that of the jet flow in the higher current density region. And the cell-voltage increased with H2 flow rate in each case. These differences between the cell-performances were caused by overpotentials related to phenomena in the lower frequency region. Furthermore, the results of the numerical simulation indicated that these differences between the cell-performances had a significant correlation with the electromotive force. © 2012 The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers.