Modelling heat transfer for a tubular micro-solid oxide fuel cell with experimental validation

Saeid Amiri, R. E. Hayes*, K. Nandakumar, Partha Sarkar

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

A detailed mathematical model that accounts for mass, momentum, heat, and electric charge transfer is developed for a tubular micro-solid oxide fuel cell. Electrochemical reactions as well as reversible and irreversible heat generation are modelled locally within the volume of each cermet electrode. The gas velocity profile and convective and conductive heat and mass transfer are modelled within each porous electrode and the gas channel. The heat transfer model includes the thermal radiation exchanged between surfaces. The simulation results are validated against electrochemical performance and temperature distribution experimental data. Simulation results are presented to give a detailed insight about several aspects of the cell's thermal behaviour. It is found that local heating within the electrodes is negligible when the temperature is controlled on the surface of the electrode. Temperature gradients along the cell's active length are found not to be negligible. Modelling heat transfer has a negligible effect on overall cell performance predictions for the specific setup of this study.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)190-201
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Power Sources
Volume233
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Heat transfer
  • Local heat generation
  • Modelling
  • Solid oxide fuel cell

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Modelling heat transfer for a tubular micro-solid oxide fuel cell with experimental validation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this