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Corresponding Author

Zhe Lv(lvzhe@hit.edu.cn )

Abstract

Single-chamber solid oxide fuel cell (SC-SOFC) is a special type of fuel cells, in which both an anode and a cathode are placed in one chamber. Its working principle relies on the selective catalytic activity of the electrodes towards fuel and oxidant in a gas mixture, leading to the generation of an electromotive force. Because of its unique principle and structure, SC-SOFC has many advantages such as sealing-free, easy stacking, quick start-up and no carbon deposition, thus, it possesses large potential in application. Herein, the principles and characteristics of SC-SOFC are introduced. Furthermore, the SC-SOFC materials, micro-stack design, degeneration mechanisms and potential applications in recent years are reviewed systematically. In order to improve the output voltage and power of SC-SOFC micro-stack, the structure of micro-stack running in pre-mixed gas environment is modified, and the output power of four-cell micro-stack with star-type is increased to 420 mW. Then, the gas supply mode of SC-SOFC micro-stack is also improved step by step combined with the numerical simulation of computational fluid dynamics, and a single-channel/multi-point gas supply mode and a double-channel/multi-point gas supply mode are proposed. The output power of a single SC-SOFC micro-stack module is as high as 8.178 W. In addition, either external series or parallel connection of the micro-stack module, and the experimental verification with the burners are carried out. The results show that SC-SOFC can be easily connected into micro-stack module which produce several watts of output power, and are expected to be used in the combined heat-power system with heat supply prior in the future. By means of the simultaneous measurements of in situ resistance and open circuit voltage, it is also clarified that the repeated oxidation-reduction cycle of Ni at CH4-O2 atmosphere is the primary mechanism for the irreversible decay in SC-SOFC. This discovery later has promoted a new technology for the preparation of porous metals by oxidation-reduction method.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

solid oxide fuel cell, single-chamber, micro-stack, selective catalytic activity

Publication Date

2020-04-28

Online Available Date

2020-01-16

Revised Date

2019-12-19

Received Date

2019-11-18

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