Modeling of Anode-supported planar SOFC with direct internal reforming of methane

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) are of great interest due to their high energy efficiency, low emission level, and multiple fuel utilization. SOFC can operate with various kinds of fuels such as natural gas, carbon monoxide, methanol, ethanol, and hydrocarbon compounds, and they are becoming one of the main competitors among environmentally friendly energy sources for the future. In this study, a mathematical model of a co - flow planar anode - supported solid oxide fuel cell with internal reforming of natural gas has been developed. The model simultaneously solves mass, energy transport equations, and chemical as well as electrochemical reactions.The CFD model consisted of 5 submodels utilizing the Navier Stokes and continuity equations for momentum transport, Maxwell-Stefan model and Knudsen diffusion for mass transport, energy equation for heat transfer, a chemical reforming model, and an electrochemical model considering distributed charge transfer over the cell, including Butler-Volmer type kinetics. Resulting model polarization curves showed good agreement with experimental data.

Modeling of Anode-supported planar SOFC with direct internal reforming of methane Keywords:

SOFC , modeling , anode - supported , internal reforming