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

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.56 no.12
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• pp.893-899
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• 2018

In the present study, we investigated the sulfur poisoning of the Ni anode in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) as a function of operating conditions. Anode supported cells were fabricated, and sulfur poising tests were conducted as a function of current density, $H_2S$ concentration and humidity in the anode gas. The voltage drop was significant under the higher current density (${\sim}714mA/cm^2$) condition, while it was much reduced under the lower current density (${\sim}389mA/cm^2$) condition, at 100 ppm of $H_2S$. A secondary voltage drop, which occurred only at the high current density, was attributed to Ni oxidation in the anode. Thus, operation at high current density with high $H_2S$ concentration may lead to permanent deterioration in the anode. The effect of water content (10%) on the sulfur poisoning was also investigated through a constant current test (${\sim}500mA/cm^2$) at 10 ppm of $H_2S$. The cell operating with 10% wet anode gas showed a much smaller initial voltage drop, in comparison with a dry anode gas. The present study indicates that operating conditions, such as gas humidity and current density, should be carefully taken into account, especially when fuel cells are operated with $H_2S$ containing fuel.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.331-337
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• 2017

A simple strategy is proposed herein for attaining uniform current distribution in direct methanol fuel cells by varying the catalyst loading over the electrode. In order to use the same total catalyst amount for a serpentine flow field, three spatial variation types of catalyst loading were selected: enhancing the cathode catalyst loading (i) near the cathode outlet, (ii) near the cathode inlet, and (iii) near the lateral areas. These variations in catalyst loading are shown to improve the homogeneity of the current distribution, particularly at lower currents and lower air-flow rates. Among these three variations, increased loading near the lateral areas was shown to contribute most to achieving a homogenous current distribution. The mechanism underlying each catalyst loading variation method is different; very high catalyst-loading is shown to decrease the homogeneity of the distribution, which may be caused by water management in the thick catalyst layer thereof.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2014

This study aims to develop a simulation bed for the mechanical balance of plants of high temperature fuel cells such as molten carbonate fuel cells. For using fuel cells in transportation, the optimization of the balance of plants should be considered. In this study, the dynamic model of a molten carbonate fuel cell and the model's responses to inlet gas composition, pressure, flow rate, and stack temperature were analyzed. On/off simulation was performed for testing the dynamic model's feasibility. The simulation results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental results from published literatures.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.473-481
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• 2007

Compared to other types of fuel cells, SOFC has advantages like a wide output range and the direct use of hydrocarbon fuel without the process of external reforming. Particularly because the direct use of fuel without reforming reaction is closely linked to overall system efficiency, it is a very attractive advantage. We tried the operation with methane. However, although methane has a small number of carbons compared to other hydrocarbon fuels, our experiment found the deposition of carbon on the surface of the SOFC electrode. To overcome the problem, we tried the operation through activating internal reforming. The reason that internal reforming was possible was that SOFC runs at high temperature compared to other fuel cells and its electrode is made of Ni, which functions as a catalyst favorable for steam reforming.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.89.1-89.1
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• 2011

The influence of potential and humidity on the electrochemical carbon corrosion in high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells(HT-PEMFCs) is investigated by measuring $CO_2$ emission at different potentials for 30 min using on-line mass spectrometry. These results are compared with low tempterature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells(LT-PEMFCs) operated at lower temperature and higher humidity condition. Although the HT-PEMFC is operated at non humidified condition, the emitted $CO_2$ in the condition of HT-PEMFC is more than LT-PEMFC at the same potential in carbon corrosion test. Thus, carbon corrosion shows a stronger positive correlation with the cell temperature. In addition, the presence of a little amount of water activate electrochemical carbon corrosion considerably in HT-PEMFC. With increased carbon corrosion, changes in fuel cell electrochemical characteristics become more noticeable and thereby indicate that such corrosion considerably affects fuel cell durability.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.129-132
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• 2007

Advanced structure of metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells was devised to overcome sealing problem and mechanical instability in ceramic-supported solid oxide fuel cells. STS430 whose dimensions were 26mm diameter, 1mm thickness and 0.4mm channel width was used as metal support. Thin ceramic layer composed of anode(Ni/YSZ) and electrolyte(YSZ) was joined with STS430 metal support by using a cermet adhesive. $La_{0.8}Sr_{0.2}Co_{0.4}Mn_{0.6}O_{3}$ perovskite oxide was used as cathode material. It was noted that oxygen reduction reaction of cathode governed the overall cell performance from oxygen partial pressure dependance.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.209-216
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• 2008

In the present study, a mathematical model has been formulated for the performance of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Modify the concentration polarization equation using concentration coefficient that represents the characteristics of bipolar plate reactant distribution. The model predictions have been compared with experimental results and good agreement has been demonstrated for the cell polarization curves. The effects of operating parameters on the performance of fuel cells have been studied. Increases of operation pressure reduce the effect of temperature on the performance.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2011

This paper summarized concept, manufacture and results of the micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The cells were fabricated by co-sintering of extruded micro-tubular anode support and electrolyte coating layer, and then additional cathode coating. The cells showed quick voltage rising within 1 minute, and the electrochemical performances were closely related to the balance of fuel utilization and performance loss. And a thermal-fluid simulation model was also reported in combination with the electrochemical evaluation results on the GDC-based micro-tubular SOFCs.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 2012

Crashworthy fuel cells have been widely implemented to rotorcraft and rendered a great contribution for improving the survivability of crews and passengers. Since the embryonic stage of military rotorcraft history began, the US army has developed and practised a detailed military specification documenting the unique crashworthiness requirements for rotorcraft fuel cells to prevent most fatality due to post-crash fire. Foreign manufacturers have followed their long term experience to develop their fuel cells, and have reflected the results of crash impact tests on the trial-and-error based design and manufacturing procedures. Since the crash impact test itself takes a long-term preparation efforts together with costly fuel cell specimens, a series of numerical simulations of the crash impact test with digital mock-ups is necessary even at the early design stage to minimize the possibility of trial-and-error with full-scale fuel cells. In the present study a number of numerical simulations on fuel cell crash impact tests are performed with a crash simulation software, Autodyn. The resulting equivalent stresses are further analysed to evaluate a number of appropriate design parameters and the artificial neural network and simulated annealing method are simultaneously implemented to optimize the crashworthy performance of fuel cells.