Evaluation of Ceria Electrolytes In SOFC Power Plant Applications

Abstract

Ceria based SOFC single cells have demonstrated power densities >250 mW/cm(2) at 700 degrees C and stable performance for 15,000 hours. Though encouraging, issues of stack performance and efficiency due to mixed conduction remain. Stacks operated on both H-2/3% H2O and reformed natural gas show equivalent performance at approximately half the power expected from single cells. A coupled thermal - electrochemical model, including conduction heat transfer in the solid and convection to the reactant gases, was developed to explore the possibility of using ceria based SOFCs in power plant applications. Humidified hydrogen fuel and partially reformed natural gas cases were analyzed. Analyses indicate that ceria SOFCs may be suitable for some power plant applications.