'Design for power' of a commercial grade tubular solid oxide fuel cell

Fuel cell systems must not only be thermodynamically efficient, but cost competitive as well. Since power plant capital costs are typically measured per unit of rated power (i.e., $/kW), one means of attempting an economically attractive product is to "design for power". A proven model of a commercial grade tubular solid oxide fuel cell (TSOFC) is presented and verified. The model was used to reveal subtle aspects of enhancing power generation. Internal reformation, while beneficial to system size and integration, hinders power generation. Increasing the electrode thicknesses of the TSOFC design can be beneficial to power generation. Finally, decreasing fuel utilization, at a prescribed operating voltage, is also favorable for power generation. These latter trends are explained in view of the common assertions that thinner electrodes and increased fuel utilizations are the means of fuel cell operation enhancement. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.