Modeling of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell with Anisotropic Conductivity

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are promising as an energy producing device, which at this stage of its development will require numerical modeling at different time- and length scales. A 3D model is developed based on the FEM, using COMSOL, of a single SOFC operating at an intermediate temperature range. Ion, electron, heat, gas-phase species and momentum, transport equations are implemented and coupled to the kinetics of the electrochemical reactions. The effects from direction dependent material properties (e.g., ion, electron and pore tortuosities as well as permeability are investigated. It is concluded that the consideration of direction dependent material properties is an important step for an improved (realistic) description of the nano/microscale porous structure.

Keywords: SOFC, Modeling, FEM, Electrochemical reactions, Porous media, material properties