Sharif Digital Repository

The structural integrity of the sealant is critical for the reliability of solid oxide cells (SOCs) stacks. In this study, elastic modulus (E), hardness (H) and fracture toughness (KIC) of a rapid crystallizing glass of BaO–CaO–SiO2 system termed “sealant G” are reported as determined using an indentation test method at room temperature. A wide range of indentation loads (1 mN–10 N) was used to investigate the load-dependency of these mechanical properties. Values of 95 ± 12 GPa, 5.8 ± 0.2 GPa and 1.15 ± 0.07 MPa m0.5 were derived for E, H and KIC using the most suitable indentation loads. An application relevant annealing treatment of 500 h at 800 °C does not lead to a significant change of... 

Depletion of fossil fuels has increased the pressure on energy systems to operate in the most efficient and economical mode. This tendency promotes energy systems to operate at optimum operating conditions, which maximizes the system profit over lifetime. Recently, there have been many attempts to maximize lifetime profit. Most of them concentrate on the power generation aspect without incorporating further aspects such as system degradation and profitability through lifetime. However, the main intention of the system operators is to optimize the profitability of system at the moment of operation and not the total profitability through the system lifetime. In this study a novel approach is... 

The main objective of this work is minimizing the cost of electricity of solid oxide fuel cell stacks by decelerating degradation mechanisms rate in long term operation for stationary power generation applications. The degradation mechanisms in solid oxide fuel cells are caused by microstructural changes, reactions between lanthanum strontium manganite and electrolyte, poisoning by chromium, carburization on nickel particles, formation of nickel sulfide, nickel coarsening, nickel oxidation, loss of conductivity and crack formation in the electrolyte. The rate of degradation mechanisms depends on the cell operating conditions (cell voltage and fuel utilization). In this study, the degradation... 

In the present study a comprehensive thermodynamic model and degradation based optimization framework for energy management of anode supported solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stacks are carried out. The optimization framework determines optimum operating conditions to maximize system productivity (energy generation over system lifetime) considering degradation mechanisms. The main degradation mechanisms in anode supported SOFCs are nickel coarsening and oxidation. In this study, the optimum operating conditions regarding these degradation mechanisms to achieve maximum productivity at different target lifetimes are derived. The results show that target lifetime has a significant impact on system... 

The structural integrity of the sealant is critical for the reliability of solid oxide cells (SOCs) stacks. In this study, elastic modulus (E), hardness (H) and fracture toughness (KIC) of a rapid crystallizing glass of BaO–CaO–SiO2 system termed “sealant G” are reported as determined using an indentation test method at room temperature. A wide range of indentation loads (1 mN–10 N) was used to investigate the load-dependency of these mechanical properties. Values of 95 ± 12 GPa, 5.8 ± 0.2 GPa and 1.15 ± 0.07 MPa m0.5 were derived for E, H and KIC using the most suitable indentation loads. An application relevant annealing treatment of 500 h at 800 °C does not lead to a significant change of... 

This paper focuses on multi-objective optimisation (MOO) to optimise the planar solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stacks performance using a genetic algorithm. MOO problem does not have a single solution, but a complete Pareto curve, which involves the optional representation of possible compromise solutions. Here, two pairs of different objectives are considered as distinguished strategies. Optimisation of the first strategy predicts a maximum power output of 108.33 kW at a breakeven per-unit energy cost of 0.51 $/kWh and minimum breakeven per-unit energy cost of 0.30 $/kWh at a power of 42.18 kW. In the second strategy, maximum efficiency of 63.93%at a breakeven per-unit energy cost of 0.42... 

In the context of stationary power generation, fuel cell based systems are being predicted as a valuable option to tabernacle the thermodynamic cycle based power plants. In this paper, multi objective optimization approach is used to optimize the planer solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stacks performance using genetic algorithm technique. Multi objective optimization generates the most attractive operating conditions of a SOFC system. This allows performing the optimization of the system regarding to two different objectives. Two pairs of different objectives are considered in this paper as distinguished strategies. In the first strategy, minimization of the breakeven per-unit energy cost... 

The conventional relations for calculating the fracture stresses consider only elastic deformation but ignore viscoelastic and viscoplastic behaviors. Measuring the joining strength of a composite glass sealant-metallic interconnect specimen at solid oxide cell application relevant at high temperatures is a case where such effects can become significant. In the current study, three-point and four-point bending test results were analyzed using the finite element method (FEM) to assess systematic and random errors. It is shown that plastic deformation of the steel interconnect material at high temperature, although having a large effect on the stress distribution in the... 

Research and development efforts continue to improve oxidation resistance and electrical conductivity of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) interconnects. This research evaluates the performance of a ferritic stainless steel (AISI 430 - a candidate SOFC interconnect material) with and without a Co coating (via sol-gel dip coating technique) with various pre-treatments, during cyclic oxidation exposures up to 750°C in laboratory air. A pre-treatment exposure of Co coated samples to a 750°C reducing atmosphere (prior to oxidation exposures) led to the formation of an effective Co-based spinel oxide coating that lowers oxidation rates by more than 40 times, and substantially lowers area specific... 

The effects of intermediate nickel layer on seal strength and chemical compatibility of seal glass and interconnect materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) were investigated. Two types of samples (metal/glass/metal sandwiches and glass coated metals) were prepared with the sheet of AISI 430 (nickel plated and uncoated) and slurry of compliant silicate sealing glass (SCN-1). The joined and coated samples were heated at 850 °C for different time durations (0.5-100 h). Tensile and impact tests were performed and SEM micrographs were used to analyze the glass/metal interaction. The results indicate that nickel plated AISI 430 shows higher adhesion strength at short durations of heating due... 

The possible interactions near the triple-phase boundaries (TPB) metal/glass/air, and their effects on joint strength are investigated. Two types of samples (joined couples and glass coated coupons) are prepared with the coupon of AISI 430 (nickel plated and uncoated) and a slurry of compliant silicate sealing glass (SCN-1). The joined and coated samples are heated at 850 °C for 1000 h in air. The joined couples are cooled using two different schedules and then tested in uniaxial tension. For investigating the metal-oxides precipitation procedure in glass near the TPB, glass coated coupons are either cooled at the rate of 5 °C min−1 or water-quenched from aging temperature. The mechanical... 

Assessment of mechanical properties of glass/metal joints is a challenging process, especially when the application relevant conditions of the joints have to be considered in the test design. In this study, a finite element method (FEM) is implemented to analyze a torsional shear strength test designed for glass-ceramic/steel joints aiming towards solid oxide fuel/electrolysis cells application. Deviations from axial symmetry of the square flanges (ends) of respective hourglass-shaped specimens and also supporting and loading sockets of the test set-up are included in the model to simulate conditions close to reality. Undesirable tensile stress and also shear stress concentration appear at... 

Interactions between the metal interconnect and glass sealant in the solid oxide cells stack are critical to retaining the system integrity. To address this issue, in the current study, 8YSZ coating is applied on the Crofer22 APU steel via sol-gel and dip-coating method. Dense and continuous 8YSZ coatings are obtained on Crofer22 APU substrates. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy results show that both cubic and tetragonal structures of 8YSZ are formed. A glass-based sealing paste is applied on bare and 8YSZ coated Crofer22 APU steel. The interfacial compatibility and chemical stability of steel/glass and steel/8YSZ/glass joint couples are investigated using SEM and EDS line scan... 

Mn1.5Co1.5O4 oxide spinels are widely used as protective coatings for stainless steel interconnects within planar solid oxide fuel cell stacks. Containing both cubic and tetragonal crystalline phases, these Mn/Co oxide spinels exhibit favorable thermal stability and electronic conductivity for the SOFC interconnect application. Slurry-based coating applications of Mn/Co oxides require precursor powders, which can benefit from being nano-structured. In this study, the sol-gel synthesis of nanocrystalline Mn1.5Co1.5O4 spinel is investigated. The decomposition of sol-gel precursors, as well as the crystalline phase structures and microstructures of the product Mn1.5Co1.5O4 are characterized by...