SOFC Module and System Development by Means of Sealless Metallic Separators with Lanthanum Gallate Electrolyte

• Published in: Journal of the Electrochemical Society 2006, Vol.153 (3), p.A589-A594
• Main Authors: Akikusa, Jun, Yamada, Takashi, Kotani, Takafumi, Murakami, Naoya, Akbay, Taner, Hasegawa, Akihiro, Yamada, Masaharu, Komada, Norikazu, Nakamura, Sin, Chitose, Norihisa, Hirata, Katsuya, Sato, Shigeru, Miyazawa, Takashi, Shibata, Makoto, Hosoi, Kei, Nishiwaki, Futoshi, Inagaki, Toru, Kano, Jiro, Ujiie, Satoshi, Matsunami, Takahiro, Nakajima, Hiroaki, Nishi, Junya, Sasaki, Tsunehisa, Yoshida, Hiroyuki, Hashino, Koji, Kawano, Mitsunobu, Yamasaki, Satoru, Takita, Yusaku, Ishihara, Tatsumi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0013-4651
• DOI: 10.1149/1.2163807

The third-generation 1-kWe-class module was developed with an automatic control system. A conversion efficiency of 48% ac/lower heating value [ac/LHV] was achieved with an exhaust heat recovery unit. An endurance test using the third-generation 1-kW, module was done for over 1000 h and no degradation of the power generation performance was observed. In parallel, a single-cell unit, which includes one cell and two metallic separators, was tested for over 10000 h and the degradation rate of the terminal voltage was found to be 1-2%/1000 h. In the direction of scale-up, a triple-stack module of 3-kW, output was developed. A partial load as well as excess loads on the module were tested and the output power of 1-5 kWe was attained under thermally self-sustainable conditions. It was found that a high efficiency of 55% dc/lower heating value [dc/LHV] was obtained under stable operation. Ongoing research of the fourth-generation 1-kWe module has resulted in the conversion efficiency of 58% [dc/LHV].