Performance of Pressurized Anode Supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

A commercially available Anode Supported Cell (ASC) with an active area of 81 cm2 was characterized at pressures up to 9 bar at 750 °C using a custom-built pressurized test stand. Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) measurements of the cell indicated the existence of an intercell leak due to a cracked cell. Voltage characteristic curves were measured at 1, 3, and 9 bar using 50/50 N2/H2 (1.2 SLPM) and bottled air (1.5 SLPM). Measured current density at 0.70 V increased from 0.37 A·cm−2 to 0.43 A·cm−2 as a result of pressurization from atmospheric to 9 bar. Subsequent measurements were taken while flowing 100% dry hydrogen at 1.5 SLPM and 100% oxygen at 1.5 SLPM. Under these conditions at 9 bar the current density increased to 0.5 A·cm−2. The OCV and peak power density increased more than suggested by theory, suggesting that the balanced anode and cathode flow rates reduced the pressure differential across the cell resulting in less leakage. These preliminary measurements validate the significant potential for improved operational performance under pressurized conditions.