Performance investigation of a micro-tubular flame-assisted fuel cell stack with 3,000 rapid thermal cycles

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 394; no. C; pp. 86 - 93
• Main Authors: Milcarek, Ryan J., Garrett, Michael J., Welles, Thomas S., Ahn, Jeongmin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier B.V 01.08.2018; Elsevier
• Subjects: Chemistry; Electrochemistry; Energy & Fuels; Flame-assisted fuel cell (FFC); Lean-burn (RQL) combustor; Materials Science; Micro-combined heat and power (micro-CHP); Micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cell (mT-SOFC); Quick-mix; Rich-burn; Two-stage burner; Rich-burn; Micro-combined heat and power (micro-CHP); Lean-burn (RQL) combustor; Quick-mix; Two-stage burner; Flame-assisted fuel cell (FFC); Micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cell (mT-SOFC)
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.05.060

Solid oxide fuel cell research and development has faced challenges with slow startup, slow shutdown and a limited number of thermal cycles, which hinders the technology in areas like micro-combined heat and power. A novel micro combined heat and power system, based on a boiler/hot water heater with integrated micro-tubular flame assisted fuel cells (mT-FFCs), is proposed which requires rapid startup, shutdown and thousands of thermal cycles. A 9 cell mT-FFC stack is developed and operated in a two-stage combustor. Rapid startup and shutdown of the fuel cells is demonstrated. The first-stage combustor is ignited, turned off and re-ignited for a total of 3000 on/off, thermal cycles. A maximum heating rate of 966 °C.min−1 and a maximum cooling rate of 353 °C.min−1 is achieved while thermal cycling. Despite the presence of CO in the exhaust, the anode remains porous and crack free after ∼150 h of thermal cycling testing. The mT-FFC stack continues to generate significant power, even after completing the cycling test, and a low voltage degradation rate is reported. •A novel concept for micro-combined heat and power is proposed.•Micro-tubular flame-assisted fuel cells are tested during 3000 thermal cycles.•Maximum heating rate of 966 °C.min−1 and cooling rate of 353 °C.min−1 are achieved.•Significant power density of ∼257  mW cm−2 is achieved in combustion exhaust.•A low voltage degradation rate is measured during the thermal cycling test.