Composite electrodes are of great interest in the field of solid oxide fuel cells because their use can improve the performance of these cells. However, an important correlation exists between composition, microstructure, and thickness of an electrode and its performance. This correlation has been investigated in this work using a theoretical model. The model, in order to consider all the losses occurring in an electrode, includes Ohm’s law for ionic and electronic charge transport, and the Butler-Volmer equation to evaluate the activation polarizations, and mass transport equations, taking into account diffusion through porous media, to evaluate the concentration losses. The model shows that the best electrode performance is a trade-off between activation and concentration losses. This is because a decrease in the dimensions of the particles or an increase in its thickness result, on the one hand, in a reduction of the activation polarizations, because of a larger active area for the electrochemical reaction, and, on the other hand, in an increase in the concentration losses due to a more difficult gas diffusion. In particular, in order to understand the impact of concentration losses on the performance of composite electrodes, the simulations have been run with two models, one including and the other one neglecting the mass transport equations. The results show that concentration losses play a role only with thick electrodes composed of small particles, operating at high fuel utilization.
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February 2007
This article was originally published in
Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology
Technical Papers
Effects of Mass Transport on the Performance of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Composite Electrodes
Marco Cannarozzo,
Marco Cannarozzo
DICHEP,
University of Genoa
, Italy
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Simone Grosso,
Simone Grosso
DICHEP,
University of Genoa
, Italy
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Gerry Agnew,
Gerry Agnew
Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems Ltd.
, Derby, UK
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Adriana Del Borghi,
Adriana Del Borghi
DICHEP,
University of Genoa
, Italy
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Paola Costamagna
Paola Costamagna
DICHEP,
University of Genoa
, Italy
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Marco Cannarozzo
DICHEP,
University of Genoa
, Italy
Simone Grosso
DICHEP,
University of Genoa
, Italy
Gerry Agnew
Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems Ltd.
, Derby, UK
Adriana Del Borghi
DICHEP,
University of Genoa
, Italy
Paola Costamagna
DICHEP,
University of Genoa
, ItalyJ. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. Feb 2007, 4(1): 99-106 (8 pages)
Published Online: April 3, 2006
Article history
Received:
December 23, 2005
Revised:
April 3, 2006
Citation
Cannarozzo, M., Grosso, S., Agnew, G., Del Borghi, A., and Costamagna, P. (April 3, 2006). "Effects of Mass Transport on the Performance of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Composite Electrodes." ASME. J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. February 2007; 4(1): 99–106. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2393311
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