Assessment of a Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell Performance Applying a Prediction Tool with Correlation Equations

• Published in: ECS transactions 2019-07, Vol.91 (1), p.2749-2759
• Main Authors: Nishi, Mina, Morita, Hiroshi, Yasumoto, Kenji, Okawa, Takashi, Mugikura, Yoshihiro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1938-5862; 1938-6737; 1938-6737; 1938-5862
• DOI: 10.1149/09101.2749ecst

A performance prediction tool with correlation equations was developed for a performance assessment of a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC). For the purpose, several sets of experiments with various gas content were carried out, showing the SOEC performance. Based on the numerical model developed with correlation equations, reaction factors of hydrogen, steam and oxygen were determined, depending on the resistance of the hydrogen and oxygen electrodes. For determining the reaction factors of an SOEC, those of solid oxide fuel cells were taken into the considerations and also the developed performance prediction tool was applied for the verification. It was found that the suitable reaction factors for the present studied SOEC was 0 for hydrogen, -0.5 for steam of the hydrogen electrode and 0 for oxygen of the oxygen electrode indicating that the partial pressure of the reactant dominates the rate determination rather than that of the reaction product.