Design of dedicated instrumentation for temperature distribution measurements in solid oxide fuel cells

A thermocouple was designed for temperature distribution measurements in solid oxide fuel cells. A theoretical model, based on mixed convective-radiative heat transfer was used to predict the thermocouple response. The proposed flat type thermocouple was shown to be a high sensitive, low error temperature sensor, capable of satisfying the requirements for solid oxide fuel cell thermal behaviour research. Thereafter, a purpose-built, thin, flat-type thermocouple has been used for temperature distribution measurements at the cathode side of a planar solid oxide fuel cell. High temperature conditions of 1223 K have been tested. Beside temperature mapping, local hot spots have been easily located.