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Thermal modelling of a solid oxide fuel cell

Posted on:2007-07-08Degree:M.Sc.(EngType:Thesis
University:Queen's University (Canada)Candidate:Austin, Mark EdwardFull Text:PDF
GTID:2452390005482330Subject:Engineering
Abstract/Summary:
The following study investigates the heat and mass transfer of a tubular solid oxide fuel cell using computational fluid dynamics. The model developed was used to parametrically study three aspects of solid oxide fuel cell simulation; (i) electrochemistry, (ii) thermal radiative heat exchange with participating media, and (iii) the distribution of heat generation associated by the entropy of the electrochemical reaction.;Finally, a factor affecting the temperature field in all three studies was the air supply tube. This is vital to include in a model of a tubular SOFC designed with one, as its lower surface temperature at the air supply inlet drastically changes the temperature field in this region of the cell. It is also greatly affected by radiation exchange with the fuel cell surface. (Abstract shortened by UMI.);Two electrochemical models were developed. The first was a uniform current density model, while the second calculated the current source based on the local temperature, and the concentrations of fuel and oxidant. Modelling electrochemistry with a dependence on these conditions has moderate influence on the cell temperature.
Keywords/Search Tags:Solid oxide fuel, Cell, Model, Temperature
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