Impact of Flowfield Design on Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Performance

In the present work a finite element method (FEM) model was developed to investigate the impact of the flowfield design on the performance of a planar SOFC repeat unit. The 2-D FEM model, which considers the performance data of an ideal contacted cell, the electrical conductivities of the electrode materials and the contact resistance between the electrodes and the metallic interconnectors, provides the electrical potential and current density distribution in the repeat unit. Simulations and experimental studies for different flowfield / contact rib geometries were performed to evaluate the cell performance decrease due to the in plane ohmic losses in the electrode and the contact resistance. Experimental and modeling data are in good agreement. With respect to anode supported cells, the flowfield design on the cathode side has a significant impact (up to 48 % power loss) on the cell performance, whereas the flowfield design in the anode is of minor importance (< 1 % power loss)