ENTROPY GENERATION MINIMIZATION IN A TUBULAR SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL

摘要

The aim of the paper is to investigate possible design modifications in tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) geometry to increase its performance. The analysis of the cell performances is conducted on the basis of the entropy generation. The use of this technique makes it possible to identify the phenomena provoking the main irreversibilities, understand their causes and propose changes in the system design and operation. The different contributions to the entropy generation are analyzed in order to develop new geometries that increase the fuel cell efficiency. To achieve this purpose, a CFD model of the cell is used. The model includes energy equation, fluid dynamics in the channels and in porous media, current transfer, chemical reactions and electrochemistry. The geometrical parameters of the fuel cell are modified to minimize the overall entropy generation.