Kinetic modelling of molten carbonate fuel cells: Effects of cathode water and electrode materials

Arato, Elisabetta; Audasso, Emilio; Barelli, Linda; Bosio, Bárbara; Discepoli, Gabriele

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.08.123

Cited by 31 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…A non-linear correlation for the activation overpotential and a TPB composition correction for the concentration overpotential permit a better simulation of characteristic i-V curves, which have a linear profile at a low current and an increased slope as the load rises. A good agreement between simulated and tested data preliminarily demonstrates the validity of the proposed electrokinetic model, which could be successfully used as a baseline to develop further studies, like 2D or 3D cell modelling or the extension to a wider range of operating conditions, such as that already performed for other fuel cell types [31,32]. experimental data.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

Optimization of a Reference Kinetic Model for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

et al. 2020

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Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) stand out among other fuel cell types because of their specific characteristics. The high operating temperature permits to reach optimal conductivity and favours kinetics without requiring noble metal catalysts. The SOFC behaviour analysis is fundamental to optimise operating conditions and to obtain the best performance. For this purpose, specific models are studied to investigate the electrochemical kinetics, which is the most critical aspect in the simulation. This is closely linked to cell materials and structure, as well as to operating conditions (feed composition and temperature above all) that influence cell polarization effects. The present work aims at evaluating these contributions by means of a semi-empirical kinetic formulation based on both theoretical and experimental approaches. A dedicated experimental campaign on an anode-supported NiYSZ/8YSZ/GDC-LSCF button cell is performed to identify experimental parameters. Each working variable is changed singularly to understand its specific effect, avoiding the overlap of multiple effects. The studied kinetics is validated using a 0D model to evaluate global cell operation, and a 1D model to estimate occurring mechanisms along anode thickness. The comparison between experimental and simulated data allows a preliminary validation of the proposed model, providing a base for subsequent more specific studies.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

Optimization of a Reference Kinetic Model for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

et al. 2020

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“…The kinetic expression has been integrated as a new kinetic core in the SIMFC code. It is a numerical 2-D deterministic model, based on local mass, energy, charge, and momentum balances, which have been set-up and successfully validated by PERT (Process Engineering Research Team) of the University of Genoa for Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells [37][38][39] and has been updated to allow also IT-SOFCs simulation. The experimental tests have been carried out on planar single cells at ENEA laboratories of the Casaccia Research Centre.…”

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confidence: 99%

A 2-D model for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Preliminarily Validated on Local Values

et al. 2019

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Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (IT-SOFC) technology offers interesting opportunities in the panorama of a larger penetration of renewable and distributed power generation, namely high electrical efficiency at manageable scales for both remote and industrial applications. In order to optimize the performance and the operating conditions of such a pre-commercial technology, an effective synergy between experimentation and simulation is fundamental. For this purpose, starting from the SIMFC (SIMulation of Fuel Cells) code set-up and successfully validated for Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells, a new version of the code has been developed for IT-SOFCs. The new release of the code allows the calculation of the maps of the main electrical, chemical, and physical parameters on the cell plane of planar IT-SOFCs fed in co-flow. A semi-empirical kinetic formulation has been set-up, identifying the related parameters thanks to a devoted series of experiments, and integrated in SIMFC. Thanks to a multi-sampling innovative experimental apparatus the simultaneous measurement of temperature and gas composition on the cell plane was possible, so that a preliminary validation of the model on local values was carried out. A good agreement between experimental and simulated data was achieved in terms of cell voltages and local temperatures, but also, for the first time, in terms of local concentration on the cell plane, encouraging further developments. This numerical tool is proposed for a better interpretation of the phenomena occurring in IT-SOFCs and a consequential optimization of their performance.

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“…As molecular oxygen is not stable in these molten salts, these mechanisms involve reduced oxygenated species such as superoxides or peroxides. In most cases, CO 2 diffusion dominates the reaction process (Arato et al, 2016). Some research groups observed, either experimentally (Nishina et al, 1996;Audasso et al, 2017) or by modeling (Arato et al, 2016), a water effect on the cathode reaction: presence of water vapor decreased the apparent diffusion resistance of CO 2 and increased apparent mass transfer.…”

Section: Role In Cathode Mechanismmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In most cases, CO 2 diffusion dominates the reaction process (Arato et al, 2016). Some research groups observed, either experimentally (Nishina et al, 1996;Audasso et al, 2017) or by modeling (Arato et al, 2016), a water effect on the cathode reaction: presence of water vapor decreased the apparent diffusion resistance of CO 2 and increased apparent mass transfer. This behavior was to be expected, as it has previously been explained that water reacts as an oxide ion acceptor, linked to its conjugated oxobase OH − by reaction 1, and can be later reobtained through reaction 9 reversed.…”

Section: Role In Cathode Mechanismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Significance of Molten Hydroxides With or Without Molten Carbonates in High-Temperature Electrochemical Devices

et al. 2021

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Due to their low melting point and high conductivity molten hydroxides are interesting electrolytes, or additive to other molten electrolytes for high-temperature electrochemical devices. There is nowadays a revival of such reactive media, first of all for their significant role in the electrode mechanisms in molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) and the reverse co-electrolysis of water and carbon dioxide process, but also in different applications, among which direct carbon fuel cells (DCFCs), hybrid carbonate/oxide fuel cells. This overview shows the properties and interest of molten hydroxides and their use in relevant energy devices, pointing out their direct use as electrolytic media or as key species in complex kinetic processes. A thorough understanding of their behavior should allow improving and optimizing significantly fuel cells, electrolyzers, and probably also CO2 capture and valorization.

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Kinetic modelling of molten carbonate fuel cells: Effects of cathode water and electrode materials

Cited by 31 publications

References 34 publications

Optimization of a Reference Kinetic Model for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Optimization of a Reference Kinetic Model for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

A 2-D model for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Preliminarily Validated on Local Values

Significance of Molten Hydroxides With or Without Molten Carbonates in High-Temperature Electrochemical Devices

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