SOFC Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

SOFC(Solid Oxide Fuel Cell)

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) belongs to the third generation fuel cell. It is an all solid state chemical power generation device that directly converts Chemical energy stored in fuel and oxidant into electrical energy in an efficient and environmentally friendly manner at medium and high temperatures. It is one of the fuel cells with the highest theoretical energy density, It is generally believed that it will be widely used as Proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) in the future.

specification

Operation temparature:500~1000℃

Anode：Ni/YSZ

Cathode:LaMnO3

Electrolyte:YSZ(solid)

conductive ions:O^2-

Fuel:Hydrogen, Water gas, natural gas, hydrocarbon

Corrosiveness:No

Start Time:>10min

Efficiency(%):40~50

Application field: Power plants, transportation vehicles, combined cycle discharge

Our company can provide accessories for (SOFC) solid oxide fuel cells:

The working principle of SOFC:

SOFC single cells generally exhibit a sandwich structure, also known as PEN (positive pole, electrolyte and negative pole), mainly composed of dense electrolytes, porous anodes, and cathodes.

Oxygen or air is introduced to one side of the cathode, and O2 is adsorbed on the porous cathode surface. Due to the catalytic reduction of the cathode, it becomes O2-, (oxygen molecule obtains oxygen ion O2 in electronic form from the external circulation circuit). Under the action of Chemical potential, it enters the electrolyte with O2 conductivity, and diffusion is caused by concentration gradient, finally reaching the interface between solid electrolyte and anode.

Cathode, air electrode: O2+4e ^– → 2O^2-

Fuel gas (such as H₂, CH₄, coal gas, etc.) is continuously introduced on one side of the anode. The catalytic anode surface adsorbs fuel gas and diffuses it to the interface between the anode and electrolyte through the porous structure of the anode. It undergoes an oxidation reaction with O2- reaching the anode to generate CO₂ or H₂O, and the electrons generated by the reaction return to the cathode through an external circulation circuit, generating a current.

Anode, fuel electrode:

O^2-+CO→CO₂+2e^–

O^2-+H2→H₂O+2e^–

O^2-+CH4→CO₂+H₂O

total reaction

2H₂+O₂→2H₂O

2CO+O₂→2CO₂

CH₄+2O₂→CO₂+2H₂O

Advantages of SOFC (solid oxide fuel cells):

1. The structure of the all solid battery does not have any leakage problems
2. The preheating value is high. The high-quality preheating of SOFC can be used for cogeneration, making the total power generation efficiency of SOFC as high as 80%
3. Without using precious metals as electrode catalysts, the manufacturing cost is greatly reduced
4. The fuel has a wide range of applications, and SOFC is applicable to almost all combustible fuels, not only H2, CO and other fuels, and natural gas, coal gas, and other hydrocarbons can also be used as fuels.