Three-Dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics Modelling for a Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell of a New Design

The aim of the work is to investigate the electrochemical processes of a planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell and to estimate the performance of a novel SOFC design. The design involves cross-flow bipolar plates. Each of the bipolar plates has an air channel system on one side and a fuel channel system on the other side. One pair of channels in adjacent plates is used for the air flow along the cathode, the other for the fuel flow along the anode of each cell. A three-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics model for the anode-supported planar SOFC with complex bipolar plates has been developed. The distributions of temperature and gas flow through the channels and MEA structure were studied. The results identified the most susceptible areas for significant increase of the temperature at high current density, which can lead to hot spots formation and destruction of the electrodes.