Transient Multi-Physics Modeling and Performance Degradation Evaluation of Direct Internal Reforming Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Focusing on Carbon Deposition Effect

• Published in: Energies (Basel) Vol. 16; no. 1; p. 124
• Main Authors: Li, Zheng, Yang, Guogang, Shen, Qiuwan, Li, Shian, Wang, Hao, Liao, Jiadong, Jiang, Ziheng, Zhang, Guoling
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.01.2023
• Subjects: carbon deposition effect; Carbon dioxide; Deposition; Design and construction; Electrodes; Fuel cells; Fuel technology; Industrial plant emissions; Internal reforming; long-term performance evaluation; Maritime industry; Mathematical models; Metal oxides; Natural gas; Numerical models; Optimization; Performance degradation; Performance evaluation; Physics; Reliability (Engineering); solid oxide fuel cell; Solid oxide fuel cells; transient multi-physics modeling; China
• ISSN: 1996-1073; 1996-1073
• DOI: 10.3390/en16010124

The performance degradation issue caused by carbon deposition has limited the commercial application of natural-gas-fueled solid oxide fuel cells. Most previous corresponding studies are based on thermodynamic equilibrium analyses, while long-term transient evaluation work is lacking. Therefore, a transient multi-physics numerical model is developed in present work. The corresponding long-term performance degradation evaluation is then conducted. The results show that, for a direct internal reforming solid oxide fuel cell, the increase in carbon deposition and deterioration of performance degradation were concentrated in the first 180 days of steady−state operation and slowed down at the later stage. The electrode inlet rapidly developed a high concentration of carbon deposition after 180 days of steady−state operation. The deposited carbon deteriorated the gas transport and decayed reaction activity within the porous electrode, eventually inducing a deactivation zone with 0 current density at the inlet. Key measures to inhibit carbon deposition should be implemented within the first 180 days of operation, and the pre-reformed operation of natural gas is encouraged for natural-gas-fueled solid oxide fuel cells.