Operating Characteristics of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stacks and Systems

Abstract

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have been developed for power generation applications and in the reverse operating mode for hydrogen and oxygen production. In both operating modes, stable performance and high efficiency are very much dependent on operating characteristics of the stack within the system. Several of the critical parameters include temperature gradient across the cell, voltage and temperature variations between cells, cell-to-cell contacts, and fuel and oxidant utilizations. This paper discusses certain factors important to the operation of SOFC stacks and systems including cyclic operation between power generation and hydrogen production modes.