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Research Papers

# Numerical Investigation of a Delta High Power Density Cell and Comparison With a Flattened Tubular High Power Density Cell

[+] Author and Article Information
Arun K. S. Iyengar1

Stationary Fuel Cells, Siemens Power Generation Inc., 1310 Beulah Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15235-5098

Niranjan A. Desai, Shailesh D. Vora, Larry A. Shockling

Stationary Fuel Cells, Siemens Power Generation Inc., 1310 Beulah Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15235-5098

1

Corresponding author.

J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol 7(6), 061002 (Aug 17, 2010) (8 pages) doi:10.1115/1.4000996 History: Received June 15, 2007; Revised October 29, 2009; Published August 17, 2010; Online August 17, 2010

## Abstract

The thermal, electrical, and fluid flow fields associated with a Siemens Power Generation Inc., Stationary Fuel Cells, flattened tubular high power density (HPD) solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) were investigated comprehensively in a previous study. The present computational investigation is the subsequent part of an ongoing numerical pursuit at Siemens of an optimized cell geometry, commercialization of SOFC technology being the ultimate objective. A Delta type HPD cell featuring eight air channels was investigated and compared with a flattened tubular HPD cell. The computational models were developed using the commercial computational fluid dynamics software FLUENT 6.2 along with its SOFC user defined routine to model the electrochemical effects. The SOFC model parameters were derived from experimental data. The cathode, the anode, and the interconnection layers of the cell were resolved in the model and all modes of heat transfer, conduction, convection, and radiation were included. The resulting electrical performance and the thermal hydraulic characteristics of the cells for fully reformed natural gas fuel flow (reformed external to the cell) are presented and discussed. It was clear from these studies that the Delta HPD cell has distinct advantages over the flattened HPD cell in terms of system electrical performance as well as power density.

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## Figures

Figure 1

Siemens solid oxide fuel cell designs

Figure 2

Delta 8 cell

Figure 3

CFD model and domain

Figure 4

Computational mesh

Figure 5

HPD5R1 CFD model and domain

Figure 6

HPD5R1 computational mesh

Figure 7

Comparison of HPD10 CFD model results with isothermal cell tests

Figure 8

Comparison of Delta 8 and HPD5R1 V-J at T=940°C

Figure 9

Comparison of Delta 8 and HPD5R1 V-I and cell power at T=940°C

Figure 10

Current density vectors in the air electrode colored by the corresponding voltage variation

Figure 11

Schematic of fuel flow path in a typical SOFC stack

Figure 12

Contours of temperature on the electrolyte face

Figure 13

Contours of current density on the electrolyte face

Figure 14

Contours of Nernst voltage on the electrolyte face

Figure 15

Variation in bulk temperature of air and average electrolyte temperature for the Delta 8 cell

Figure 16

Variation in bulk temperature of air and average electrolyte temperature for the HPD5R1 cell

Figure 17

Variation in O2 mole fractions within the AE at various elevations

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