Design and fabrication of novel anode flow-field for commercial size solid oxide fuel cells

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 346; pp. 49 - 55
• Main Authors: Canavar, Murat, Timurkutluk, Bora
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-04-2017
• Subjects: Commercial size solid oxide fuel cell; Current collection; Stack design; Woven mesh based anode flow-field; Woven mesh based anode flow-field; Stack design; Commercial size solid oxide fuel cell; Current collection
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.02.020

In this study, nickel based woven meshes are tested as not only anode current collecting meshes but also anode flow fields instead of the conventional gas channels fabricated by machining. For this purpose, short stacks with different anode flow fields are designed and built by using different number of meshes with various wire diameters and widths of opening. A short stack with classical machined flow channels is also constructed. Performance and impedance measurements of the short stacks with commercial size cells of 81 cm2 active area are performed and compared. The results reveal that it is possible to create solid oxide fuel cell anode flow fields with woven meshes and obtain acceptable power with a proper selection of the mesh number, type and orientation.
•Woven meshes are tested as an anode flow-field instead of the conventional channels.•Cell performance is strongly influenced by mesh number, type and orientation.•New design provides almost the same power output as the conventional one.•New design can increase the volumetric and specific power density of the stack.