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The Role of Bi-Polar Plate Design and the Start-Up Protocol in the Spatiotemporal Dynamics during Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Anode Reduction

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  • Thomas M. M. Heenan

    (Electrochemical Innovation Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, UK
    The Faraday Institution, Quad One, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0RA, UK)

  • Seyed Ali Nabavi

    (Centre for Climate and Environmental Protection, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK)

  • Maria Erans

    (Centre for Climate and Environmental Protection, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK
    Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK)

  • James B. Robinson

    (Electrochemical Innovation Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, UK
    The Faraday Institution, Quad One, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0RA, UK)

  • Matthew D. R. Kok

    (Electrochemical Innovation Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, UK
    The Faraday Institution, Quad One, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0RA, UK)

  • Maximilian Maier

    (Electrochemical Innovation Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, UK)

  • Daniel J. L. Brett

    (Electrochemical Innovation Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, UK
    The Faraday Institution, Quad One, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0RA, UK)

  • Paul R. Shearing

    (Electrochemical Innovation Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, UK
    The Faraday Institution, Quad One, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0RA, UK)

  • Vasilije Manovic

    (Centre for Climate and Environmental Protection, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK)

Abstract

Start-up conditions largely dictate the performance longevity for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The SOFC anode is typically deposited as NiO-ceramic that is reduced to Ni-ceramic during start-up. Effective reduction is imperative to ensuring that the anode is electrochemically active and able to produce electronic and ionic current; the bi-polar plates (BPP) next to the anode allow the transport of current and gases, via land and channels, respectively. This study investigates a commercial SOFC stack that failed following a typical start-up procedure. The BPP design was found to substantially affect the spatiotemporal dynamics of the anode reduction; Raman spectroscopy detected electrochemically inactive NiO on the anode surface below the BPP land-contacts; X-ray computed tomography (CT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) identified associated contrasts in the electrode porosity, confirming the extension of heterogeneous features beyond the anode surface, towards the electrolyte-anode interface. Failure studies such as this are important for improving statistical confidence in commercial SOFCs and ultimately their competitiveness within the mass-market. Moreover, the spatiotemporal information presented here may aid in the development of novel BPP design and improved reduction protocol methods that minimize cell and stack strain, and thus maximize cell longevity.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas M. M. Heenan & Seyed Ali Nabavi & Maria Erans & James B. Robinson & Matthew D. R. Kok & Maximilian Maier & Daniel J. L. Brett & Paul R. Shearing & Vasilije Manovic, 2020. "The Role of Bi-Polar Plate Design and the Start-Up Protocol in the Spatiotemporal Dynamics during Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Anode Reduction," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-12, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:14:p:3552-:d:382705
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Choudhury, Arnab & Chandra, H. & Arora, A., 2013. "Application of solid oxide fuel cell technology for power generation—A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 430-442.
    2. Nabavi, Seyed Ali & Erans, María & Manović, Vasilije, 2019. "Demonstration of a kW-scale solid oxide fuel cell-calciner for power generation and production of calcined materials," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
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    Cited by:

    1. Bahman Amini Horri, 2022. "Special Issue “Emerging Materials and Fabrication Methods for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs)”," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-6, April.
    2. Zhen Zhang & Chengzhi Guan & Leidong Xie & Jian-Qiang Wang, 2022. "Design and Analysis of a Novel Opposite Trapezoidal Flow Channel for Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell Stack," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.

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