Parametric Study of Operating Conditions on Performances of a Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell

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  • 1. School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
    2. School of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China

Online published: 2023-11-26

Supported by

This work was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (52176182), Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission (GXWD20220811164142001, JCYJ20200109113439837), and the Innovation Program in Universities and Colleges in Guangdong 

Copyright

solid oxide electrolysis cell, electrolysis performance, temperature distribution, operating conditions, EIS (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy)

Abstract

The operating conditions greatly affect the electrolysis performance and temperature distribution of solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs). However, the temperature distribution in a cell is hard to determine by experiments due to the limitations of in-situ measurement methods. In this study, an electrochemical-flow-thermal coupling numerical cell model is established and verified by both current-voltage curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results. The electrolysis performance and temperature distribution under different working conditions are numerically analyzed, including operating temperature, steam and hydrogen partial pressures in the fuel gas, inlet flow rate and inlet temperature of fuel gas. The results show that the electrolysis performance improves with increasing operating temperature. Increasing steam partial pressure improves electrolysis performance and temperature distribution uniformity, but decreases steam conversion rate. An inappropriately low hydrogen partial pressure reduces the diffusion ability of fuel gas mixture and increases concentration impedance. Although increasing the flow rate of fuel gas improves electrolysis performance, it also reduces temperature distribution uniformity. A lower airflow rate benefits temperature distribution uniformity. The inlet temperature of fuel gas has little influence on electrolysis performance. In order to obtain a more uniform temperature distribution, it is more important to preheat the air than the fuel gas.  

Cite this article

CHEN Hanming, WANG Jingyi, XU Xinhai . Parametric Study of Operating Conditions on Performances of a Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell[J]. Journal of Thermal Science, 2023 , 32(6) : 1973 -1988 . DOI: 10.1007/s11630-023-1772-4

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