First 3D-Modeling of Proton-Conducting SOFC's Interconnect
Résumé
The development of solid oxide fuel cells has reached a new stage with intermediate temperature SOFCs. The protonic ceramic fuel cell is fundamentally different because it relies on proton conductivity through the electrolyte and not oxygen ions like SOFCs. Only few experimental results on PCFC are reported in literature compare to SOFC devices. The present work deals with three-dimensional geometry in steady state conditions and the role of interconnect for circular PEN PCFC is investigated. The gas flow inlet is at the centre of the cell. It is impossible to consider the problem using only two directions due to symmetry plan absence. To overcome the difficulty of high memory capacity required for 3D simulations, axes make it possible to consider only an eighth part of this configuration The present study reveals a strong edge effects to collect the current and a limiting access of oxygen due to water production.