Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Model

I took a graduate-level course: Energy Systems II: Modeling and Advanced Concepts where I created a computational model of a Hydrogen Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC), which can produce carbon-free electricity.

The figure shows a cell consisting of an electrolyte layer (yttria-stabilized zirconia) sandwiched between porous electrodes (nickel) and separated from its gas supplies by gas diffusion layers (GDL).

The model uses the following assumptions and boundary conditions: 

1. The cell is isothermal at (1000 deg C). 

2. Transport in GDLs modeled as binary diffusion. 

3. The gas fed to the anode side of the cell is humidified hydrogen (3% water vapor by mole), and the gas supplied to the cathode is ambient air. 

The channel cell model was built in MATLAB and evaluated for performance criteria as a function of output cell current (A). 

This analysis helped me understand the characteristics of a fuel cell under flooded fuel-flow conditions. Practical fuel cells operate at high fuel efficiency and utilization, typically below the 200A maximum shown in the plots. I am eager to learn how to model more advanced operating conditions through graduate studies.

Key Learnings

  1. Translating thermodynamic concepts into computational models

  2. Learning how devices work by interpreting performance characteristics

  3. Understanding the limitations of simple models

  4. Extrapolating results to real-world operating conditions