A parametric study on exergetic performance of a YSZ electrolyte supported SOFC stack

This paper presents a parametric study on the exergetic performance assessment of an electrolyte supported solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack. Considering the operating and design parameters of yttria stabilised zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte supported SOFC stack, the variations of overpotentials, the rational overpotentials and the exergetic efficiencies are investigated for companson purposes. Consequently, considering the selected operating conditions and design parameters, it is suggested that the YSZ electrolyte supported SOFC stack having higher exergetic efficiency than 30% is used. Moreover, in order to operate such a fuel cell in an exergetically more efficient manner, the minimum YSZ electrolyte thickness needs to be thicker than 150 urn. Otherwise, some durability and manufacture problems may occur. However, a decrease of operatmg temperatures from 1273 K to 1073 K and an mcrease of YSZ electrolyte thickness from 150 μm to 500 μm will result in a reduced exergetic efficiency.