Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that convert chemical energy into electricity. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are a particularly interesting type because they can reform hydrocarbon fuels directly within the cell, which is possible, thanks to their high operating temperature. The purpose of this study is to develop an anode-supported SOFC theoretical model to enhance the understanding of the internal reforming reactions and their effects on the transport processes. A computational fluid dynamics approach, based on the finite element method, is implemented to unravel the interaction among internal reforming reactions, momentum, and heat and mass transport. The three different steam reforming reaction rates applied were developed and correlated with experimental studies found in the literature. An equilibrium rate equation is implemented for the water-gas shift reaction. The result showed that the reaction rates are very fast and differ quite a lot in size. The pre-exponential values, in relation to the partial pressures, and the activation energy affected the reaction rate. It was shown that the anode structure and catalytic composition have a major impact on the reforming reaction rate and cell performance. The large difference between the different activation energies and pre-exponential values found in the literature reveals that several parameters probably have a significant influence on the reaction rate. As the experiments with the same chemical compositions can be conducted on a cell or only on a reformer, it is important to reflect over the effect this has on the kinetic model. To fully understand the effect of the parameters connected to the internal reforming reaction, microscale modeling is needed.
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e-mail: hedvig.paradis@energy.lth.se
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June 2011
This article was originally published in
Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology
Research Papers
CFD Modeling: Different Kinetic Approaches for Internal Reforming Reactions in an Anode-Supported SOFC
Hedvig Paradis,
Hedvig Paradis
Department of Energy Sciences, Faculty of Engineering,
e-mail: hedvig.paradis@energy.lth.se
Lund University
, P.O. Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
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Martin Andersson,
Martin Andersson
Department of Energy Sciences, Faculty of Engineering,
Lund University
, P.O. Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
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Jinliang Yuan,
Jinliang Yuan
Department of Energy Sciences, Faculty of Engineering,
Lund University
, P.O. Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
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Bengt Sundén
Bengt Sundén
Department of Energy Sciences, Faculty of Engineering,
Lund University
, P.O. Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
Search for other works by this author on:
Hedvig Paradis
Department of Energy Sciences, Faculty of Engineering,
Lund University
, P.O. Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Swedene-mail: hedvig.paradis@energy.lth.se
Martin Andersson
Department of Energy Sciences, Faculty of Engineering,
Lund University
, P.O. Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
Jinliang Yuan
Department of Energy Sciences, Faculty of Engineering,
Lund University
, P.O. Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
Bengt Sundén
Department of Energy Sciences, Faculty of Engineering,
Lund University
, P.O. Box 118, 221 00 Lund, SwedenJ. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. Jun 2011, 8(3): 031014 (8 pages)
Published Online: March 1, 2011
Article history
Received:
August 17, 2010
Revised:
September 21, 2010
Online:
March 1, 2011
Published:
March 1, 2011
Citation
Paradis, H., Andersson, M., Yuan, J., and Sundén, B. (March 1, 2011). "CFD Modeling: Different Kinetic Approaches for Internal Reforming Reactions in an Anode-Supported SOFC." ASME. J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. June 2011; 8(3): 031014. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4002906
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