Production of Planar Electrolyte Supported Single Chamber Solid Oxide Fuel Cell by Single Step Co-Sintering Method and Its Effect on Electrical Performance

Abstract

This study investigates the applicability of the single step co-sintering method developed for the production of cathode and anode supported planar single chamber solid oxide fuel cells (SC-SOFCs), which we presented in previous studies, to the production of electrolyte-supported planar SC-SOFCs. In addition, the energy conversion capabilities of electrolyte-supported planar SC-COFCs obtained by this method were tested. The materials used for the anode, electrolyte and cathode layers of cells consist of nickel oxide (NiO)-gadolinium-doped ceria (CGO), CGO and lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite (LSCF)-CGO, respectively. It has been demonstrated that an electrolyte supported planar SC-SOFC with well-defined thickness ratio and thickness along with well-adjusted hot pressing and sintering settings can be produced by the single step co-sintering method. It was detected that there was no cracking or delamination during sintering, but there was curvature at the cell’s edges. By using porous alumina plates of a certain mass placed on the cell during sintering, as is done in other support types of the cell, curvature formation is prevented and an almost completely planar cell is obtained. The performance test was applied to the obtained cells in a single chamber at 600°C in methane-oxygen-nitrogen gas mixtures with different fuel/oxygen ratios. Increasing electrolyte thickness had negative effects on cell performance in spite of enhanced the cell’s single step co-sinterability. The maximum power density and open circuit voltage (OCV) of the final planar cell (thickness 60-300-40 µm, anode-electrolyte-cathode) were found to be 14,4 mW cm-2 and 0,55 V, respectively, in a fuel rich condition (gas mixture 7, CH4-O2-N2, 100-38-100 ml min-1, R:2,6). The maximum power density and OCV were obtained from cell 1, which has a thinner electrolyte than the final planar cell but has curvature at the edges, as 29,39 mW cm-2 and 0,55 V, respectively, in the same gas mixture.

Keywords

• Single chamber solid oxide fuel cell
• Cell manufacturing
• Hot pressing
• Co-sintering
• Cell performance

Düzlemsel Elektrolit Destekli Tek Odacıklı Katı Oksit Yakıt Pilinin Tek Aşamalı Ortak Sinterleme Yöntemiyle Üretimi ve Elektriksel Performansına Etkisi

Öz

Bu çalışma, önceki çalışmalarda sunduğumuz katot ve anot destekli düzlemsel tek odacıklı katı oksit yakıt pillerinin (TO-KOYP) üretimi için geliştirilmiş tek adımlı ortak sinterleme yönteminin elektrolit destekli düzlemsel TO-KOYP’lerin üretimine uygulanabilirliğini araştırmaktadır. Ayrıca bu yöntemle elde edilen elektrolit destekli düzlemsel TO-KOYP’lerin enerji dönüşüm kabiliyetleri test edilmiştir. Pillerin anot, elektrolit ve katot katmanları için kullanılan malzemeler sırasıyla; nikel oksit (NiO)–gadolinyum katkılı ceria (CGO), CGO ve lantan stronsiyum kobalt ferrit (LSCF))–CGO’dan oluşmaktadır. Optimize edilmiş sıcak presleme ve sinterleme ayarlarıyla birlikte iyi tanımlanmış kalınlık oranı ve kalınlığa sahip elektrolit destekli düzlemsel bir TO-KOYP’nin tek aşamalı ortak sinterleme yöntemiyle üretebilirliği görülmüştür. Sinterleme sırasında çatlama ve delaminasyon olmadığı fakat pilin kenarlarında eğriliğin olduğu görülmüştür. Pilin diğer destek türlerinde yapıldığı gibi sinterleme sırasında pil üzerine yerleştirilen belirli kütleye sahip gözenekli alümina plakaları kullanılarak eğrilik oluşumu engellenmiş neredeyse tamamen düz bir pil elde edilmiştir. Elde edilen piller 600°C’de farklı yakıt/oksijen oranlarına sahip metan-oksijen-nitrojen gaz karışımlarında tek haznede test edilmiştir. Elektrolit kalınlığının arttırılması, pilin tek aşamada ortak sinterlenebilirliğinin artmasına yol açmasına rağmen pil performansı üzerinde olumsuz etkilere sebep olmuştur. Nihai düzlemsel pilin (kalınlık 60-300-40 µm, anot-elektrolit-katot) maksimum güç yoğunluğu ve açık devre voltajı (OCV) yakıt açısından zengin durumda (gaz karışımı 7, CH4-O2-N2 100-38-100 ml dk-1, R:2,6) sırasıyla; 14,4 mW cm-2 ve 0,55 V olarak bulunmuştur. Maksimum güç yoğunluğu ve OCV nihai düzlemsel pilden daha ince bir elektrolite sahip olan fakat kenarlarında eğrilik bulunan pil 1’den aynı gaz karışımında sırasıyla 29,39 mW cm-2 ve 0,55 V olarak elde edilmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Tek odacıklı katı oksit yakıt pili
• Pil üretimi
• Sıcak presleme
• Birlikte sinterleme
• Pil performansı

Kaynakça

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