Single-Chamber SOFCs

Up to the beginning of the twenty-first century, flow-through electrodes were not used for fuel cells, mainly because of the need to use a part of the electric power produced for pumping the electrolyte through the electrode. 

Priestnall et al. (2002) proposed a new concept of MR fuel cells called compact mixed-reactant (CMR) fuel cells, based on the use of a structure containing porous flow-though electrodes. Such a structure can be a single cell or stacks of cells connected in series or parallel. In their initial proof-of-principle experiments, the authors used an alkaline fuel cell system with an electrolyte 0.008 M NBH4 in 10 M KOH saturated with air. 

Single-chamber solid-oxide fuel cells (SC-SOFCs) are a variety of solid-oxide fuel cells in which the principle of mixed-reactant supply is used. A SC-SOFC 

For SOFCs, use of the MR principle has many additional advantages besides those mentioned in Section 18.2  

Since in fuel cells with a mixed-reactant supply the solid electrolyte is not used to separate both reactants, it no longer has to be completely devoid of pores and cracks. This considerably simplifies the technology of its preparation. 

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Performance of Single-Chamber SOFCs with Doped-Ceria Electrolytes... 

Interestingly, research has started on single chamber SOFC (SC-SOFC) concepts. However, the SC-SOFC exhibits inherently low power density and is therefore primarily of academic interest. It has the potential to relax cell component requirements and probably to ease manufacture. The principle of SC-SOFC is that it is fed by an air fuel mixture which flows onto the PEN contained in a single compartment, avoiding the use of gas separator plates and high temperature sealants. The fluid may flow simultaneously or sequentially along the electrodes. Both electrodes are either built onto the same side of the electrolyte some distance apart or on opposite sides. Low temperature operation would apparently suppress direct combustion of the air fuel mixture provided the electrode materials chosen are highly selective towards their respective catalytic reactions. SC-SOFC stacks may hold prospects in specific applications where the reaction products are the prime focus. 

Suzuki, T., Jasinski, P., Anderson, H., and Dogan, F. Role of Composite Cathodes in Single Chamber SOFC, Journal of the Electrochem. Soc., 151, A1678 (2004). 

Nappom, T. W., Morin, F., and Meunier, M. Evaluation of the Actual Working Temperature of a Single-chamber SOFC, Electrochem. and Solid-State Letters, 1, A60 (2004). 

Asahara, S., Michiba, D., Hibino, M., and Yao, T. Single Chamber SOFC Using BaLaIn205 5 Solid Electrolyte, Electrochem. Solid-State Letters, 8, A449 (2005). 

Catalytic activity and performance of LSM cathode materials in single chamber SOFC. Appl. Catal. A, 323, 181-187. 

Tomita, A., Hirabayashi, D., Hibino, T., Nagao, M., and Sano, M. (2005) Single-chamber SOFCs with a Ceo.9Gdo.1O195 electrolyte film for low-temperature operation. Electrochem. Solid-State Lett., 8 (1), A63-A65. 

Development of electrolyte-supported intermediate-temperature single-chamber SOFCs using Lno.7Sro3Feo,8Coo.203 (Ln = Pr,... 

Nagao, M., Sano, M., Tomita, A., and Hibino, T. (2007) Single-chamber SOFCs using dimethyl ether and ethanol./. Electrochem. Soc., 154 (8), B865-B870. 

Jia, D., and Su, W. (2009) A novel design of single-chamber SOFC micro-stack operated in methane-oxygen mixture. Electrochem. Commun., 11 (2), 347—350. 

Jacques-Bedard, X., Napporn, T.W., Roberge, R., and Meunier, M. (2007) Coplanar electrodes design for a single-chamber SOFC assessment of the operating parameters. J. Electrochem. Soc., 154 (3), B305-B309. 

H.-W., Song, H., and Lee, J.-H. (2010) Microfabrication of single chamber SOFC with co-planar electrodes via multi-step photoresist molding with thermosetting polymer. J. Mater. Process. Technol, 210 (9), 1243-1248. 

Gaudillere C, VemouxP, FarmssengD (2010) Impact of reforming catalyst on the anodic polarisation resistance in single-chamber SOFC fed by methane. Electrochem Commun 12 1332-1335. doi 10.1016/j. elecom.2010.07.010... 

Suzuki T, Jasinski P, Anderson HU, Dogan F (2004) Role of composite cathodes in single chamber SOFC. J Electrochem Soc 15LA1678-A1682. doi 10.1149/ 1.1786071... 

Yano M, Nagao M, Okamoto K, Tomita A, Uchiyama Y, Uchiyama N, Hibino T (2008) A single-chamber SOFC stack operating in engine exhaust Electrochem Solid Stale Lett 11 B29-B33. doi 10.1149/1.2824502... 

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