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Numerical Analysis of Flow in U-Type Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stacks

Author

Listed:
  • Hao Yuan Yin

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hannam University, 70 Hannam-ro, Daedeok-gu, Daejeon 34430, Republic of Korea)

  • Kun Woo Yi

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hannam University, 70 Hannam-ro, Daedeok-gu, Daejeon 34430, Republic of Korea)

  • Young Jin Kim

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hannam University, 70 Hannam-ro, Daedeok-gu, Daejeon 34430, Republic of Korea)

  • Hyeon Jin Kim

    (Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), 152 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34129, Republic of Korea)

  • Kyong Sik Yun

    (Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), 152 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34129, Republic of Korea)

  • Ji Haeng Yu

    (Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), 152 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34129, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

Numerical analysis of a U-type solid oxide fuel cell stack was performed using computational fluid dynamics to investigate the effects of stack capacities and fuel/air utilization rates on the internal flow uniformity. The results indicated that increasing the fuel/air utilization rate improved the gas flow uniformity within the stack for the same stack capacity. The uniformity in the anode fluid domain was better than that in the cathode fluid domain. Furthermore, the flow uniformity within the stack was associated with the percentage of pressure drop in the core region of the stack. The larger the percentage of pressure drop in the core region, the more uniform the flow inside the stack. Additionally, under a fuel utilization rate of 75%, the computational results exhibited excessively high fuel utilization rates in the top cell of a 3 kWe stack, indicating a potential risk of fuel depletion during actual stack operation.

Suggested Citation

  • Hao Yuan Yin & Kun Woo Yi & Young Jin Kim & Hyeon Jin Kim & Kyong Sik Yun & Ji Haeng Yu, 2024. "Numerical Analysis of Flow in U-Type Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stacks," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-18, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:22:p:5764-:d:1523672
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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