Temperature and reactive current distributions in microtubular solid oxide electrolysis cells

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 41; no. 32; pp. 13888 - 13900
• Main Authors: Mizusawa, T., Araki, T., Mori, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 24.08.2016
• Subjects: High temperature steam electrolysis; Micro-tubular; Solid oxide electrolysis cells; Temperature distributions; Micro-tubular; High temperature steam electrolysis; Solid oxide electrolysis cells; Temperature distributions
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.05.161

A two-dimensional tubular model of a cathode supported microtubular solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) was developed in order to investigate the temperature distribution within the cell during high-temperature steam electrolysis. High-temperature steam electrolysis using SOECs allows for highly efficient hydrogen generation, because the heat from the overpotential can be recycled in the form of a heat source for the electrolysis reaction. However, to improve the durability and strength of the components, an understanding of the temperature distribution of the cell is essential, because heat absorption during electrolysis reaction leads to complex temperature distributions. The current density–voltage curves obtained using the above-mentioned model were in good agreement with the experimental ones. The calculated and measured temperature distributions indicated that the distribution in microtubular SOECs is a nonuniform one and suggested that the current-collecting positions strongly affect the temperature and reaction distributions under the conditions used herein. •Temperature distribution affects durability and performance.•The numerical model considers heat, mass, and charge transport, and electrochemical reactions.•The calculated i–V and i–ΔT curves showed good agreement with the measured ones.•Temperature distributions of a microtubular SOEC caused by heat absorption were calculated.