Publication date: 10th April 2024
A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), an eco-friendly energy conversion device, has gained significant attention as a power generator due to its high fuel flexibility and efficiency and low emissions of pollutants. However, SOFC has inherently poor thermomechanical stability, ascribed to ceramic properties, such as high elastic modulus and low thermal conductivity. Therefore, it is prone to crack formation and failure of the cell in the thermal shock caused by rapid temperature changes, leading to slow start-up/shutdown and unstable operation under thermal cycling. To achieve exceptional thermomechanical strength, an innovative design of the solid oxide cell is indispensable, thereby overcoming the inherent vulnerability of ceramics to thermal shock.
This study examines the temperature and stress distribution in a solid oxide cell exposed to rapid heating conditions via computational simulation. Thermal stress analyses were employed to assess the thermomechanical robustness of anode-supported and electrolyte-supported SOFCs. Critical vulnerabilities within each SOFC configuration were identified, providing essential insights into their respective thermomechanical stabilities.