3D Multiscale-Multiphysics SOFC Modelling Status at the Institute of Electrochemical Process Engineering, FZ Jülich

The Institute of Electrochemical Process Engineering (IEK-3), SOFC modelling research group has been focusing on the 3D multiphysics modelling of SOFCs [1], auxiliary components [2-4], as well as whole fuel cell systems [5] during the last seven years; thereby giving particular attention to various geometrical scales including, micro, meso and macro level of solid oxide fuel cells [6-9], as well as cell, stack and system level high-end modelling.

                 Currently, emphasis of research has been given to the material, process and 3D design optimisation of APU fuel cell stacks, including the thermomechanical behaviour during the heating-up, operation and shut-down stages for safe SOFC operation. Micro modelling of cells, including the thermomechanical fatigue behaviour has been another research area to understand the cyclic durability of the critical fuel cell stack regions.

 The full scale 3D system level multiphysics modelling of the Forschungszentrum Jülich integrated SOFC system has been successfully continued and important results have been achieved and experimentally validated to improve the knowledge about the overall multiphysics system in full detail. Moreover, the interacting component behaviour of the fuel cell stack, afterburner, heat exchanger, pre-reformer and baffle plates have been intensively investigated to improve their design and thermofluid flow, thermomechanical performance. Coupled CFD/FEM is used to predict their thermofluid flow, heat radiation, electrochemical and chemically reacting species transport, creep, elastoplasticity and cyclic behaviour.

 

1. M. Peksen, Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 48, 1-20 (2015)
2. M. Peksen, L. Blum and D. Stolten, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 37, 12540-12547 (2012)
3. Q. Fang, L. Blum, R.Peters, M. Peksen, P. Batfalsky, D.Stolten, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 2, 1128-1136 (2015)
4. M. Peksen, Ro. Peters, L. Blum, D. Stolten, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 36, 6851-6861 (2011)
5. A. Al-Masri, M.Peksen, L.Blum, D. Stolten Applied Energy, 135, 539-547 (2014)
6. M. Peksen, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 39, 5137 (2014).
7. M. Peksen, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 38, 13408-13418 (2013)
8. M. Peksen, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 36, 11914 (2011).
9. M. Peksen, A. Al-Masri, L. Blum and D. Stolten, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 38, 4099 (2013).