Analysis of the dynamic response of a tubular SOFC to the electrical load change using a 2-D transient numerical model

The purpose of this study is to predict the cell dynamic response in a step load current change. A 2-D transient numerical model is used to solve the transient equations of flow, energy and species conservation in a single tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). Also an electrical model is considered to compute the electrical potential and current distribution in the cell. Using this comprehensive model the dynamic behavior of TSOFC is studied. First an initial steady state operating condition is set for the SOFC model. The simulation starts when the cell is at the steady state in a specific output load. When the load step change takes place, the solution continues to a secondary steady state condition. Then the cell transient behavior is analyzed. The results show that when the load current is stepped up, the output voltage reduces to steady state in about 750s.