Recent Results in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Development at Forschungszentrum Juelich

Abstract

The SOFC group at FZJ has assembled and tested more than 350 SOFC stacks rated between 100 W and 15 kW during the last 15 years. The research topics covered stretch from materials over stack design, manufacturing of cells, stacks and components, mechanical and electrochemical characterisation, up to system design and demonstration. Use of improved steels, cathodes and materials processing has resulted in reduced degradation rates around 6 mV (0.75%) per 1000 hours at 700{degree sign}C and 500 mA/cm² over tested stack lifetimes of over 15 000 hours. However, the target of development is directed at even further lowered degradation for commercial operation in stationary applications. A recent stack displays a degradation of approx. 3 mV (0.4%) per 1000 hours running at 800{degree sign}C and 500 m/cm². This paper gives an overview of some of long-term testing results.