Numerical simulation and analysis of the thermal stresses of a planar solid oxide electrolysis cell
- 3 May 2022
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in International Journal of Green Energy
- Vol. 20 (4), 432-444
- https://doi.org/10.1080/15435075.2022.2065881
Abstract
Hydrogen production using solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) is a highly efficient and low-carbon pathway to generate high purity hydrogen. However, high working temperatures may result in high thermal stress due to a mismatch in the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between components with a nonuniform temperature distribution. Serious stress concentration may lead to structural failure of the SOEC stack. Hence, this work investigated the thermal stress of SOECs through a three-dimensional planar SOEC unit model. A stress analysis method was proposed via a multi-physics coupling model of SOECs using Comsol Multiphysics software. The impacts of voltage, flow direction, water mole fraction, and operating pressure on the thermal stress were evaluated. Numerical results show that the highest maximum principal stress is located in the electrolyte in the SOEC unit. Raising the water mole fraction and the CTE of the electrolyte could reduce the thermal stress if the voltage is below the thermoneutral voltage.Keywords
Funding Information
- Transformational Technologies for Clean Energy and Demonstration Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA2100000)
- Shanghai Sailing Program (22YF1457700)
- the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2018298)
- the Young Potential Program of Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (E055300101)
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