Improving durability of SOFC stacks

Informazioni relative al progetto

ID dell’accordo di sovvenzione: JOE3950005

Progetto chiuso

Data di avvio 1 Gennaio 1996

Data di completamento 31 Dicembre 1998

Finanziato da

• Specific programme for research and technological development, including demonstration in the field of non-nuclear energy, 1994-1998

Costo totale

Nessun dato

Contributo UE

Nessun dato

Coordinato da

RISOE NATIONAL LABORATORY
Denmark

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Risultati finali

Improving Durability of SOFC Stacks; IDUSOFC

In this project, the degradation rate as a function of time and thermal cycling of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack components was studied. The investigation included several types of electrolytes, anodes, cathodes and both ceramic and metallic interconnects. Also the time development of the contact resistances between cells and interconnects were investigated. Furthermore, both materials and fabrication procedures were developed in order to simultaneously decrease the cost and increase the electrochemical performance of the cells. It is known that SOFC lifetime may be very long, more than 50, 000 hours, if the tests are carried out with a low power density and not too high fuel utilisation. However, both high power densities, high fuel utilisation and long life times are necessary in order to make SOFC technology competitive with traditional power generation technology. A high power density means a high cell voltage and current density, which in turn means a low area specific resistance (ASR). Thus, there is an urgent need for a better understanding of the relationships between the parameters: ASR, operation conditions, manufacture procedures, materials composition and degradation rate. This need was the main background for launching this project. The objectives of the project were reached in almost all aspects, and a large amount of valuable information has been generated. With respect to durability, cells showed low performance losses during thermal cycling (0.01%/cycle) and the degradation rate was below 1% per 1000 hours up to 300mA/cm(2). It was shown that operation temperature was not a main parameter in controlling the degradation rate. Most important was the current density, which grossly affected the durability of both the anode and the cathode. Also the fuel utilisation proved to be of significant importance for the anode durability. The contacts between cell and metallic interconnect were improved, but further improvements are necessary, and tests have to be done over longer periods 1000 �2000 hours. Cost calculations showed that the objectives of the project are not sufficient for commercialisation of SOFC technology. A further lowering of both degradation rate and ASR, i.e. increasing of power density, W/cm(2), is necessary.