Complete Modeling of kW-Range SOFC Stacks

Gubner, Andreas

doi:10.1149/200307.1436pv

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…The CFD structure model was first introduced at the SOFC VIII (1). The requirement of being able to simulate large SOFC stacks in the kW range led to the development of an SOFC model taking advantage of advanced data structures to improve the calculation time of a stack simulation.…”

Section: Cfd Structure Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experiences with a CFD Based Two Stage SOFC Stack Modeling Concept and Its Application

Froning¹,

Blum

Gubner³

et al. 2007

ECS Trans.

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The parallel development of kW-range SOFC stacks and their systems at the Forschungszentrum Jülich requires distinguished modeling capabilities by validated SOFC models targeting the three-dimensional stack structure itself as well as the entire system. For the full three-dimensional (3D) geometric resolution of a stack, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models are used whereas a one-dimensional (1D) behavior model based on ordinary differential equations (ODE) covers the system modeling requirements. The CFD model is using advanced data structures to reduce the computing time significantly. However, Computing times in the range of seconds or below required by system modeling are featured only by the 1D model. Both SOFC models are based on the same physical equations for electrochemical conversion and internal methane reforming. The application of these models is shown in practice, focusing on choosing the right model for an application, and how both models were validated against each other and against experiments.

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Section: Cfd Structure Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experiences with a CFD Based Two Stage SOFC Stack Modeling Concept and Its Application

Froning¹,

Blum

Gubner³

et al. 2007

ECS Trans.

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“…Khaleel et al (2) used the finite element analysis code, Marc ® , Beale et al (3,4) employed multiple levels of models for SOFC cells and stacks using both PHOENICS and Fluent ® as well as an in-house C++ code. Gubner et al (5) used Fluent ® to model SOFC stacks ranging up to kW-sizes. Akhtah et al (6) developed a model that couples fluid flow in the gas channels and mass transfer in porous electrodes using COMSOL Multiphysics .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical and Experimental Analysis of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stack

Beale

Roth

et al. 2011

ECS Trans.

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A numerical simulation of the Jülich F-design Solid Oxide Fuel Cells stack is conducted by means of an original mathematical model. The model is implemented in the open source toolbox, OpenFOAM. This cell/stack level model is a key component of a programme to develop a fully integrated multi-scale fuel cell modelling capability, from nano-scale through to system level. It is intended to share the resulting software with other parties openly. Substantial experimental data is available for the Jülich F-design; Stack configuration, flow conditions, interconnector geometries and porous electrode properties prescribed in the numerical model are based on field experiments. The numerical model generates distributions of fluid flow, species concentrations, current density and temperature. The results of the simulations are compared against experimental data obtained from short stacks.

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“…Develop a Multi-Component Multi-Physics (MCMP) scheme which defines a relationship between geometry, component, and model elements. (Gubner, et al, 2003, andMaggio et al, 1996).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Costamagna et al (1994) reported differences in voltage output because of non-uniform distribution of the feeding gas along the planar fuel cell stack. Experimental studies conducted by Gubner et al (2003) and Maggio et al (1996) also revealed that cells in a stack do not operate uniformly.…”

Section: Reduced Order Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Refinement of numerical models and parametric study of SOFC stack performance

Burt¹

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The presence of multiple air and fuel channels per fuel cell and the need to combine many cells in series result in complex steady-state temperature distributions within Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) stacks. Flow distribution in these channels, when non-uniform, has a significant effect on cell and stack performance. Large SOFC stacks are very difficult to model using full 3-D CFD codes because of the resource requirements needed to solve for the many scales involved. Studies have shown that implementations based on Reduced Order Methods (ROM), if calibrated appropriately, can provide simulations of stacks consisting of more than 20 cells with reasonable computational effort. A pseudo 2-D SOFC stack model capable of studying co-flow and counter-flow cell geometries was developed by solving multiple 1-D SOFC single cell models in parallel on a Beowulf cluster. In order to study cross-flow geometries a novel Multi-Component Multi-Physics (MCMP) scheme was instantiated to produce a Reduced Order 3-D Fuel Cell Model. A C++ implementation of the MCMP scheme developed in this study utilized geometry, control volume, component, and model structures allowing each physical model to be solved only for those components for which it is relevant. Channel flow dynamics were solved using a 1-D flow model to reduce computational effort. A parametric study was conducted to study the influence of mass flow distribution, radiation, and stack size on fuel cell stack performance. Using the pseudo 2-D planar SOFC stack model with stacks of various sizes from 2 to 40 cells it was shown that, with adiabatic wall conditions, the asymmetry of the individual cell can produce a temperature distribution where high and low temperatures are found in the top and bottom cells, respectively. Heat transfer mechanisms such as radiation were found to affect the reduction of the temperature gradient near the top and bottom cell. Results from the reduced order 3-D fuel cell model showed that greater thermal gradients can be observed in the cross-flow geometry than in the co-flow geometry.

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Complete Modeling of kW-Range SOFC Stacks

Cited by 10 publications

References 0 publications

Experiences with a CFD Based Two Stage SOFC Stack Modeling Concept and Its Application

Experiences with a CFD Based Two Stage SOFC Stack Modeling Concept and Its Application

Numerical and Experimental Analysis of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stack

Refinement of numerical models and parametric study of SOFC stack performance

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