A one-dimensional model has been developed to predict the thermal and electrochemical behavior of a high-temperature steam electrolysis stack. This electrolyzer model allows for the determination of the average Nernst potential, cell operating voltage, gas outlet temperatures, and electrolyzer efficiency for any specified inlet gas flow rates, current density, cell active area, and external heat loss or gain. The model includes a temperature-dependent area-specific resistance (ASR) that accounts for the significant increase in electrolyte ionic conductivity that occurs with increasing temperature. Model predictions are shown to compare favorably with results obtained from a fully 3-D computational fluid dynamics model. The one-dimensional model was also employed to demonstrate the expected trends in electrolyzer performance over a range of operating conditions including isothermal, adiabatic, constant steam utilization, constant flow rate, and the effects of operating temperature.

Volume Subject Area:
Heat Transfer
Topics:
Computational fluid dynamics, Electrolysis, High temperature, Solid oxide fuel cells, Temperature, Current density, Electrolytes, Flow (Dynamics), Gas flow, Heat losses, High temperature steam, Ionic conductivity, Operating temperature, Steam
1.
O’Brien, J. E., Stoots, C. M., Herring, J. S., and Hartvigsen, J. J., “Hydrogen Production Performance of a 10-Cell Planar Solid-Oxide Electrolysis Stack,” Proceedings, ASME 3rd International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering, and Technology, May 23 – 25, 2005, Ypsilanti, MI.
2.
O’Brien, J. E., Herring, J. S., Stoots, C. M., Lessing, P. A., “High-Temperature Electrolysis for Hydrogen Production From Nuclear Energy,” to be presented at the 11th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal-Hydraulics NURETH-11, Popes Palace Conference Center, Avignon, France, October 2–6, 2005.
3.
O’Brien
J. E.
,
Stoots
C. M.
,
Herring
J. S.
,
Lessing
P. A.
,
Hartvigsen
J. J.
, and
Elangovan
S.
, “
Performance Measurements of Solid-Oxide Electrolysis Cells for Hydrogen Production from Nuclear Energy
,”
Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology
, Vol.
3
, August
2005
, pp.
72
–
82
.
4.
Hawkes, G. L., O’Brien, J. E., Stoots, C. M., Herring, J. S., Shahnam, M., “CFD Model of a Planar Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell for Hydrogen Production from Nuclear Energy,” to be presented at the 11th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal-Hydraulics NURETH-11, Popes Palace Conference Center, Avignon, France, October 2–6, 2005.
5.
Prinkey, M., Shahnam, M., and Rogers, W. A., “SOFC FLUENT Model Theory Guide and User Manual,” Release Version 1.0, FLUENT, Inc., 2004.
6.
Yildiz, B., Hohnholt, K., and Kazimi, M. S., “H2 Production Using High Temperature Steam Electrolysis Supported by Advanced Gas Reactors with Supercritical CO2 Cycles,” MIT-NES-TR-002, December 2004.
This content is only available via PDF.
Copyright © 2005
 by ASME
You do not currently have access to this content.