Modeling of thermal stresses and lifetime prediction of planar solid oxide fuel cell under thermal cycling conditions

Liu, Lin; Kim, Gap-Yong; Chandra, Abhijit

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2009.10.064

Cited by 95 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 60 publications

(94 reference statements)

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“…The key feature of the model consists in numerical coupling of the three-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics technique, used for an accurate evaluation of the flow and temperature distributions inside the mSOFC stack, with Computational Structural Mechanics Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis that allows to predict thermal stresses. A similar approach was applied by Wei et al [17], Yakabe et al [8,12], Nakajo et al [13], Liu et al [18] and Peksen [19,20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Numerical analysis of thermal stresses in a new design of microtubular stack

2015

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Microtubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (mSOFCs) are one of the most promising and efficient devices that convert chemical energy of fuels into electrical energy. However, mSOFC stacks work at high operating temperature over 650°C, which leads to thermally induced mechanical stresses and in consequence may cause failure of stack components. In order to reduce the local thermal gradients and prevent high stresses in the stack components, it is desirable to study the effect of stack design on its performance. For this purpose a 3D numerical approach was developed to estimate thermal expansion of fuel cell inside an mSOFC stack and to reduce the associated experimental efforts and costs. Initially, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model was used to calculate the temperature and species concentration profiles. During the second modeling step temperature profiles were used in the thermo-mechanical model to calculate the thermal stress distribution in the mSOFC stack. The results maximum thermal axial elongation that equals 1.4 mm for the mSOFC stack. The modelled maximum radial elongation was equal to 0.5 mm in the contact areas of the cylindrical housing and manifolds on the fuel inlet side.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Numerical analysis of thermal stresses in a new design of microtubular stack

2015

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“…7,8 Moreover, structural evolution results in compromising SOFCs' electrochemical performance, mostly in the electrodes.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…1,8,12,13 TPB area is the key microstructural property controlling the electrochemical activities of SOFC.…”

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confidence: 99%

Meso-Scale Phase-Field Modeling of Microstructural Evolution in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Abdullah

Liu

2016

J. Electrochem. Soc.

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Microstructural evolution occurs in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) during operation, which cause severe electrochemical performance degradation as well as structural failure such as crack formation. Nickel (Ni) particle coarsening is believed to cause microstructural evolution in the Ni-based anode of SOFCs. Furthermore, the accumulation of expanded pores during the microstructural evolution is responsible for crack formation. Based on the diffuse-interface theory and the phase-field method, integrating both Cahn-Hilliard equation and Ginzburg-Landau equation, a meso-scale phase-field model was established to investigate microstructural evolution and crack formation in the Ni / Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) anode of SOFCs. Then, the model was applied to explore the coupling effects of microstructural evolution on SOFCs performance degradation. Simulation results show that particle size, porosity, and particle size ratio of Ni-YSZ are most influential parameters in microstructural evolution. It was found that the triple phase boundaries (TPBs) area was decreased by 24% and power density was decreased by 11.03% after 1000 hours of operation. In addition, the power density was decreased by 27%. This work is expected to provide us a comprehensive understanding of SOFCs' microstructural evolution as well as a tool for SOFC's performance degradation analysis. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) could be one possible solution to the depleting energy resources of the modern world due to its fuel flexibility, low carbon emissions, and high efficiency. With up to 60% energy efficiency and a life expectancy of 40,000 hours, the SOFC has emerged as an ideal candidate to meet the energy challenges of the modern world.1-3 However, the commercialization of SOFC is hindered due to its high operating temperature, manufacturing cost, and structural instability.4-6 Structural evolution of SOFC often leads to the structural failure and shortening of SOFC lifetime. 7,8 Moreover, structural evolution results in compromising SOFCs' electrochemical performance, mostly in the electrodes.A SOFC consists of both electrodes (i.e., anode and cathode) and a ceramic electrolyte. The anode is consisted of ion conducting phase and electron conducting phase to facilitate the fuel oxidation reaction. 9The cathode reduces the oxygen into oxygen ion, which is then diffused to anode through the ceramic electrolyte, such as yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ).10 Electrochemical reaction of SOFC mainly occurs in the triple phase boundary (TPB) area, 11 where the pore phase, the ion conducting phase, and electron conducting phase join to convert chemical energy of fuel gases to electrical energy. 1,8,12,13 TPB area is the key microstructural property controlling the electrochemical activities of SOFC.14 It is desired to have a stable microstructure with optimized TPB area. 15,16 However, recent studies reveal that TPB area is often diminished due to microstructure evolution. 10,[17][18][19][20] The microstructure evolution is controlled by the Ni particle c...

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“…Residual stresses can also be expected if the cooling rates are not slow enough to sustain a quasi-steady heat transfer resulting in spatial temperature gradients. 8 The most widely investigated situations are thermal stresses induced by spatial temperature gradients during the fuel cell operations, [6][7][8][9][10] particularly in transient operating conditions. 11 If the fuel supply is accidentally stopped, the nickel cermet re-oxidation may occur.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is generally recognized that, for the stationary applications, the chemical instability at the interfaces is one of the key issues, whereas the thermo-mechanical instability is important in the transportation applications because of frequent thermal cycles. 10,13 Other understanding envisioned that the high pressure of oxygen generated at the interface could cause the delamination as well. 14 SOFCs require materials with the ability to release or store oxygen in addition to a high concentration of oxygen vacancies for high * Electrochemical Society Active Member.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Micro Modeling Study of Cathode/Electrolyte Interfacial Stresses for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Jin

Xue

2013

J. Electrochem. Soc.

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Delamination of the cathode/electrolyte interface is an important degradation phenomenon in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). While the thermal stress has been widely recognized as one of the major reasons for such delamination failures, the role of chemical stress does not receive too much attention. In this paper, a micro-model is developed to study the cathode/electrolyte interfacial stresses, coupling oxygen ion transport process with structural mechanics. Results indicate that the distributions of chemical stress are very complicated at the cathode/electrolyte interface and show different patterns from those of thermal stress. The maximum principal stresses take place at the cathode/electrolyte interface and are affected by the distribution of oxygen vacancy concentration on the cathode particle surface. The model is able to readily study complicated interfacial stresses in SOFCs, which otherwise would be difficult for experimental techniques.

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Modeling of thermal stresses and lifetime prediction of planar solid oxide fuel cell under thermal cycling conditions

Cited by 95 publications

References 60 publications

Numerical analysis of thermal stresses in a new design of microtubular stack

Numerical analysis of thermal stresses in a new design of microtubular stack

Meso-Scale Phase-Field Modeling of Microstructural Evolution in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Micro Modeling Study of Cathode/Electrolyte Interfacial Stresses for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

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