Detailed modeling of an anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell using a fully three-dimensional approach

This paper presents a numerical investigation of a repeating unit of an anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) using a three-dimensional (3D) model. The modeling domain consists of fuel and air channels, composite anode and cathode electrodes, an electrolyte and anode and cathode interconnects. Electrochemical reactions are assumed to take place in a thin layer of finite thickness at electrode-electrolyte interfaces. Equations describing balances of mass, momentum, chemical and electrochemical processes taking place in the cell are solved simultaneously. The co-flow configuration with direct internal reforming is investigated. Results for temperature, chemical species, current density and electrical potential distributions in the cell are shown and discussed. The potential of the electronic phase is found to vary only slightly over the ribbed interconnects and the electrodes.