The benefit of solid oxide fuel cells with integrated air pre-heater

A new design has recently been proposed in the held of solid oxide fuel cells, consisting of a traditional electrochemical cell integrated with a pre-heater. In this paper a simulation model for the rectangular planar solid oxide fuel cell with integrated air pre-heater is presented. A two-dimensional stack simulation is presented as well, one axis coincides with the fuel flow direction, the other with the stack height. Local quantities such as current density, gas and solid temperatures are reported and cell characteristics predicted. In a parameter study, effects of oxygen utilisation and heat-transfer conditions in the pre-heater on the local temperature distribution of the solid structure are considered. As a result, the benefit of the new cell design becomes evident when low air flow rates are applied. A further advantage associated with the reduced flow rate is the low air temperature at the inlet. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.