Testing tubular solid oxide fuel cells in nonsteady-state conditions

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 79; no. 2; pp. 242 - 249
• Main Authors: Kharton, V.V., Naumovich, E.N., Tikhonovich, V.N., Bashmakov, I.A., Boginsky, L.S., Kovalevsky, A.V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 1999; Elsevier Sequoia
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cellulose precursor; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; Lanthanum–strontium manganite; Pulse load; SOFC; Surface modification; Cellulose precursor; Surface modification; Pulse load; Lanthanum–strontium manganite; SOFC; Cerium Oxides; Strontium Manganites; Non stationary condition; Praseodymium Oxides; Activation; Zirconium Oxides; Manufacturing; Solid oxide fuel cell; Lanthanum Manganites
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-7753(99)00176-7

Fabrication of tubular-type solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) with yttria-stabilized zirconia electrolyte, cathodes and current collectors of lanthanum–strontium manganite (LSM) is described. Particular emphasis is given to the techniques of producing LSM tubes by the isostatic pressing method, preparing oxide electrodes via cellulose precursor decomposition, and activation of SOFC electrodes by applying dispersed catalysts onto their surface. Coating nickel-cermet anodes with dispersed ceria and depositing praseodymium oxide onto manganite cathode surface was found to result in improving SOFC performance. Testing single cells with externally switched pulse load demonstrated a possibility to optimize the SOFC operating mode at a given resistance of the closing circuit by variation of the pulse period-to-pulse duration ratio of the pulses which open the circuit. No effect of the pulse load frequency on SOFC performance was observed in the frequency range from 2 Hz to 50 kHz. The results of testing SOFCs in nonsteady-state conditions suggest applicability of the externally switched pulse load to match resistances of single cells in the SOFC stacks.