LAPSE:2023.24158
Published Article
LAPSE:2023.24158
The Role of Bi-Polar Plate Design and the Start-Up Protocol in the Spatiotemporal Dynamics during Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Anode Reduction
March 27, 2023
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.
Record ID
Keywords
anode, degradation, fuel cell, Ni–YSZ, Raman, REDOX, reduction, SEM, SOFC, X-ray CT
Subject
Suggested Citation
Heenan TMM, Nabavi SA, Erans M, Robinson JB, Kok MDR, Maier M, Brett DJL, Shearing PR, Manovic V. The Role of Bi-Polar Plate Design and the Start-Up Protocol in the Spatiotemporal Dynamics during Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Anode Reduction. (2023). LAPSE:2023.24158
Author Affiliations
Heenan TMM: 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 [ORCID]
Nabavi SA: Centre for Climate and Environmental Protection, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK [ORCID]
Erans M: Centre for Climate and Environmental Protection, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK; Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK [ORCID]
Robinson JB: 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 [ORCID]
Kok MDR: 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
Maier M: Electrochemical Innovation Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, UK [ORCID]
Brett DJL: 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 [ORCID]
Shearing PR: 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 [ORCID]
Manovic V: Centre for Climate and Environmental Protection, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK
Nabavi SA: Centre for Climate and Environmental Protection, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK [ORCID]
Erans M: Centre for Climate and Environmental Protection, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK; Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK [ORCID]
Robinson JB: 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 [ORCID]
Kok MDR: 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
Maier M: Electrochemical Innovation Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, UK [ORCID]
Brett DJL: 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 [ORCID]
Shearing PR: 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 [ORCID]
Manovic V: Centre for Climate and Environmental Protection, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK
Journal Name
Energies
Volume
13
Issue
14
Article Number
E3552
Year
2020
Publication Date
2020-07-10
Published Version
ISSN
1996-1073
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PII: en13143552, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2023.24158
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doi:10.3390/en13143552
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[v1] (Original Submission)
Mar 27, 2023
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Mar 27, 2023
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