Steady-state multiplicity in a solid oxide fuel cell: Practical considerations

Steady-state multiplicity in a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) in three modes of operation, constant ohmic external load, potentiostatic and galvanostatic, is studied using a detailed first-principles lumped model. The SOFC model is derived by accounting for heat and mass transfer as well as electrochemical processes taking place inside the fuel cell. Conditions under which the fuel cell exhibits steady state multiplicity are determined. The effects of operating conditions such as convection heat transfer coefficient and inlet fuel and air temperatures and velocities on the steady state multiplicity regions are studied. Depending on the operating conditions, the cell exhibits one or three steady states. For example, it has three steady states: (a) at low external load resistance values in constant ohmic external load operation and (b) at low cell voltage in potentiostatic operation.