Over the past several years, Nexceris has been developing high performance Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells “SOEC” and stacks leveraging materials, electrode, and interlayer development along with Nexceris’ high power-density stack design. Observed performance and durability improvements demonstrated on both single cells and short stacks will be addressed. Stack intent cells with downselected electrode sets were scaled to both 42 and 96 cm2 active area cells. These were implemented into short-stacks and operated continuously in SOEC mode at ~1.3 V for ≥ 500 hours with <5%/kh degradation. The resulting subscale stack demonstrations provided promising baseline performance and a durability platform for future cell and stack development. RSOC tests were recently initiated with dynamic operation. Nexceris’ ChromLok coatings for bipolar plates were also integrated to stacks to enhance durability. This paper will provide a status update on Nexceris’ SOEC technology development.

No abstract

Increasing demand for long-term energy storage and reduced carbon emissions promotes solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) technology. SOEC systems can achieve high hydrogen production rates with near 100 percent stack electrical efficiency while co-electrolysis of carbon dioxide and water leads to production of syngas. With over 25 years’ experience building and testing solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) materials, components and stacks, Nexceris has a proven track-record of commercializing SOFC products to major OEMs. The established manufacturing platforms at Nexceris enable smooth expansion into SOEC applications. In this talk, development of new SOEC electrode materials, stack components and stacks will be discussed. Over 50 down-selected air and fuel electrodes were electrochemically screened on 25 cm2 electrolyte-supported single cells and compared to baseline electrodes. Multiple electrode sets provided current density over -1.5 A/cm2 at 1.3 V and 800 °C with 75 percent steam/25% percent hydrogen fuel and air. The promising electrodes were implemented into short stacks with active cell area of 42 cm2. Stacks were operated continuously in SOEC mode at 1.3-1.4 V for ≥ 500 hours. The resulting short stack demonstrations show promising SOEC baseline performance and durability platform for future cell and stack development. Co-electrolysis and water electrolysis tests were also conducted and yielded comparable performance. Nexceris’ ChromLok coatings for bipolar plates were also integrated to stacks and tested under realistic conditions.

Increasing demand for long-term energy storage, reduced carbon emissions, more resilient grid, and the lowest cost grid balancing solutions promotes solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) and reversible solid oxide cell (RSOC) technologies. These systems can achieve high hydrogen production rates with near 100 percent stack electrical efficiency while co-electrolysis of carbon dioxide and water leads to production of syngas. RSOC can serve as a grid storage device (hydrogen production) and power production plant (provide electricity during peak demand). With over 25 years’ experience building and testing solid oxide cell materials, components and stacks, Nexceris has a proven track-record of commercializing products to major OEMs. The established manufacturing platforms at Nexceris enable smooth expansion into new applications. In this talk, development of cells, stack components and stacks will be discussed. Performance and durability improvements from single cell to short stacks will be addressed. Cells with downselected electrode sets were implemented into short stacks with active cell area of 42 cm2 and 96 cm2. Stacks were operated continuously in SOEC mode at ~1.3 V for ≥ 500 hours with <5%/kh degradation and improving. The resulting short stack demonstrations show promising baseline performance and durability platform for future cell and stack development. RSOC tests were recently initiated with dynamic operation. Nexceris’ ChromLok coatings for bipolar plates were also integrated to stacks to enhance durability.