Mass Transport Effects of a Current Collector Coated on the Entire Cathode Surface of a Micro Tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

摘要

Micro tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC's) are advantageous in terms of power density, with a goal in this program to achieve 18kW/L by using 100μm diameter anode supported SOFC's. In this study a silver cathode current collector, which covers the entire cathode surface of a micro tubular SOFC, is modeled, thereby predicting the reactant concentration distribution over the porous current collector and estimating the concentration losses. The main advantage of this design is in utilizing the whole surface of the cathode for current collection, which results in a uniform distribution of electric field inside the electrode, as well as a uniform distribution of reaction rate and ohmic heating. In addition, the temperature field has peripheral uniformity, thus thermal distortions along the tube are eliminated.