Numerical modelling of a serpentine channel SOFC for elevated pressure applications

The present study investigates the effect of system pressurization over an anode supported planar SOFC. A three dimensional SOFC model is simulated using a commercial CFD software COMSOL multiphysics. To investigate the cell performance, the model takes into account fluid flow, heat, mass, and charge transport processes, and electrokinetics with suitable boundary conditions. The paper focuses on the impact of pressurization in the range of 1 atm to 4 atm. Alongside the pressure, the temperature is also varied from 1023 K to 1073 K. The study also calculates and analyses all the overpotentials associated with SOFC operation and the resultant heat generation.