• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.42 no.12 s.283
• /
• pp.777-786
• /
• 2005

The Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) is an electrochemical device to convert chemical energy of a fuel into electricity at temperatures from about 600 to $1000^{\circ}C$. The SOFC offers certain advantages over lower temperature fuel cells, notably its ability to use CO as a fuel rather than being poisoned by it, and high grade exhaust heat for combined heat and power, or combined cycle gas turbine applications. This paper reviews the operating principle, materials for different cell and stack components, cell designs, and applications of SOFCs. Among all designs of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs), the most progress has been achieved with the tubular design. However, the electrical resistance of tubular SOFCs is high, and specific power output $(W/cm^2)$ and volumetric power density $(W/cm^3)$ low. Planar SOFCs, in contrast, are capable of achieving very high power densities.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.69-79
• /
• 2004

To correctly simulate performance characteristics of fuel cells with a modeling method, various physical and chemical phenomena must be considered in fuel cells. In this study, performance characteristics of planar solid oxide fuel cells were simulated by a commercial CFD code, CFD-ACE+. Through simultaneous considerations for mass transfer, heat transfer and charge movement according to electrochemical reactions in the 3-dimensional planar SOFC unit stack, we could successfully predict performance characteristics of solid oxide fuel cells under operation for structural and progress variables. In other words, we solved mass fraction distribution of reactants and products for diffusion and movement, and investigated qualitative and quantitative analysis for performance characteristics in the SOFC unit stack through internal temperature distribution and polarization curve for electrical characteristics. Through this study, we could effectively predict performance characteristics with variables in the unit stack of planar SOFCs and present systematic approach for SOFCs under operation by computer simulation.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
• /
• 1996.07c
• /
• pp.1700-1702
• /
• 1996

Solid oxide fuel cell(SOFC) is an electrochemical energy device which converts the free energy of fuel gas directly to electric energy. SOFC has several diratinct advantages over other types of fuel cells: no use of noble metals, no requirement of a reformer, no problem of liquid electrolyte management, and no problem of corrosion by liquid electrolyte. In this study, we have investigated the cell components and the single cell of the planar SOFC fabricated by composite plate process, in which green films of electrolyte, anode and cathode were co-fired. The planar SOFCs were tested and the cell performance characteristics wag evaluated by using electrochemical methods.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2010.06a
• /
• pp.123.1-123.1
• /
• 2010

The solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) has attracted great deal of attention due to its high electrical efficiency, high waste-heat utilization, fuel flexibility, and application versatility. However, SOFC technology is still not matured enough to fulfill the practical requirements for commercialization. Therefore, all the research and development activities are mainly focused on a development of practically viable SOFCs with higher performance and better reliability. We were successful in fabricating high-performance anode-supported unit cells by employing hierarchically controlled multi-layered electrodes for both structural reliability and high performance. In addition, a novel composite sealing gasket made it possible to achieve excellent sealing integrity even with considerable surface irregularities in a multi-cell planar arrayed stack.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
• /
• 2007.05b
• /
• pp.1986-1991
• /
• 2007

KEPRI has studied anode-supported planar SOFCs and kW class stacks operated at intermediate temperature for development of a combined heat and power unit. A single cell composed of Ni-YSZ/FL/ScSZ/LSCF showed the maximum power density of 0.55 W/$cm^2$ at $650^{\circ}C$ and 1.8 W/$cm^2$ at $750^{\circ}C$. With 37 cells of 10${\times}10cm^2$ and stainless steel interconnects, a 1kW class SOFC stack was manufactured. When a 1kW class SOFC system was operated at $750^{\circ}C$ with city gas, it showed the power output of 1.3 kWe at 50 A. It also recuperated heat of 0.57-1.2 kWth according to the loaded current through combustion of unreacted anode off-gas. Recently, KEPRI is developing a new kW class SOFC stack and system to increase efficiency and durability at intermediate temperature.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.139-145
• /
• 2003

We studied oxidation behaviors of anti-oxidative Y-Cr oxide coated sol on ferritic steel for application of the Fe-Cr alloys as interconnectors of planar-type Solid Oxide Fuel Cells(SOFCs). In coated$YCrO_3$on the ferritic steel, the phases of $YCrO_3$,$Cr_2O_3$and $Mn_{1.5}Cr_{1.5}O_4$on the coated surface were detected, but iron base scales were not observed after oxidation at 80$0^{\circ}C$ for 40 h. The Mn-Cr oxide scales were grown with oxidation by diffusing components in the ferritic steel from inner. The Log(ASR/T) value that expresses electrical resistance of coated$YCrO_3$on the ferritic steel was -4.57~$-4.70{omega}cm^2K^{-1}$, lower in comparison with the one of the uncoated ferritic steel,$-3.99{omega}cm^2K^{-1}$. This indicates the applicability of Fe-l6Cr alloy as interconnector materials for SOFCs.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.319-325
• /
• 2011

The electrical properties of sputtered GDC thin films on $Al_2O_3$ substrates was studied. The electrical properties of the films were measured to evaluate the ion conductivity of GDC thin films for co-planar SOFC electrolytes. The impedance of the GDC thin films on $Al_2O_3$ substrates was affected by the film thickness and the impedance of thin film exhibited higher value than thick films. Similarly, the conductivity of the thick film showed much higher value than thin films. It indicated that the film thickness is the main factor affecting the conductivity and impedance of the GDC electrolyte for the co-planar SOFC.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2009.06a
• /
• pp.303-306
• /
• 2009

High temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) offer a clean, pollution-free technology to electrochemically generate electricity at high efficiencies. Solid oxide fuel cells in several different designs have been investigated; these include planar and tubular geometries. The tubular type cell is widely researched due to it have advantages about thermal expansion and sealing issues. Unfortunately, lab scale tubular cell for testing has thermal expansion and sealing problems. The previous Jig for lab scale tubular cell testing has many sealing problems. When we feed fuel gas to jig inlet, ceramic glue sealant has amount of gas expansion pressure, because temperature of feeding gas changes ambient temperature to high temperature ($700{\sim}900^{\circ}C$). Furthermore, when we carry out long time test, something like degradation test, crack of ceramic glue sealant due to weakness of mechanical properties can make stop working the test. Additionally, we reduce setting process for assembling, because micanite is not required drying or debinding process.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
• /
• v.5 no.4
• /
• pp.529-545
• /
• 2013

Strong restrictions on emissions from marine power plants (particularly $SO_x$, $NO_x$) will probably be adopted in the near future. In this paper, a combined solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and gas turbine fuelled by natural gas is proposed as an attractive option to limit the environmental impact of the marine sector. It includes a study of a heat-recovery system for 18 MW SOFC fuelled by natural gas, to provide the electric power demand onboard commercial vessels. Feasible heat-recovery systems are investigated, taking into account different operating conditions of the combined system. Two types of SOFC are considered, tubular and planar SOFCs, operated with either natural gas or hydrogen fuels. This paper includes a detailed thermodynamic analysis for the combined system. Mass and energy balances are performed, not only for the whole plant but also for each individual component, in order to evaluate the thermal efficiency of the combined cycle. In addition, the effect of using natural gas as a fuel on the fuel cell voltage and performance is investigated. It is found that a high overall efficiency approaching 70% may be achieved with an optimum configuration using SOFC system under pressure. The hybrid system would also reduce emissions, fuel consumption, and improve the total system efficiency.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.36-42
• /
• 2003

The oxidation behaviors of Y-Cr bilayer deposited on ferritic steel by magnetron-sputtering for application of the Fe-Cr alloys as interconnectors of planar-type solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) were studied. After oxidation at $800^{\circ}C$ for 40 hours, the major phase of $Y_2$$O_3$and the minor phase of $YCrO_3$, $Mn_{1.5}$ $Cr_{1.5}$ $O_4$and Cr$_2$SiO$_4$were formed in the Y/Cr bilayered samples, while the major phase of Cr$_2$O$_3$and the minor phase of $Y_2$$O_3$were formed as the major phase in the Cr/Y bilayered samples. The Log(ASR/T) that expresses electric resistance of the Y/Cr coated specimen with nonconducting $_Y2$$O_3$oxide showed high value of -2.80 Ω$\textrm{cm}^2$$K^{-1}$ / and that of the Cr/Y coated specimen with conducting $Cr_2$$O_3$oxide appeared to be -4.11 Ω$\textrm{cm}^2$$^{K}$ . The electric resistance of the Y/Cr coated specimen was largely increased due to the formation of high resistance oxide scales. However, the Cr/Y coated specimen did not show any increase in the electric resistance and had the long-term stability of oxidation because there was no formation of the secondary phases with low conductivity.