Fabrication and operation of a 1 kW class anode-supported flat tubular SOFC stack

A 1 kW class anode-supported flat tubular SOFC stack for intermediate temperature (700–800 °C) operation was fabricated and operated in this study. For this purpose, we fabricated anode-supported flat tubular cells by optimization of the current collecting method and the induction brazing process. After that, we designed a compact fuel and air manifold by adopting a simulation technique to uniformly supply fuel and air gas into the stack and a unique seal and insulation method to make a more compact stack. To assemble the stack, the prepared anode-supported flat tubular cells with an effective electrode area of 90 cm² were connected in series to 30 bundles, in which one unit bundle consists of two flat tubular cells connected in parallel. The performance of the stack in 3% humidified H₂ and air at 750 °C showed a maximum electrical power of 921 W (fuel utilization ratio = 25.2%).