| Matrix Study of Aged SOFC Performance and Materials Degradation
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| Performer: |
Atrex Energy, Inc. |
Location: |
Walpole, Massachusetts |
| Project Duration: |
10/01/2015 – 03/31/2019 |
Award Number: |
FE0026095 |
| Technology Area: |
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells |
Total Award Value: |
$1,007,413 |
| Key Technology: |
Core Technology |
DOE Share: |
$805,931 |
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Performer Share: |
$201,482 |
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Point EDS spectrum taken from the cathode
top surface of a cell from a stack operated for
6000+ hours, showing evidence for strontium segregation |
Project Description
Acumentrics SOFC Corp. (Acumentrics) and Boston University (BU) are working to support an industry goal to rate fuel cells at constant performance for more than 40,000 hours (the target duration required for widespread acceptance of fuel cells in the power generation market). A problem facing developers is the lack of an accepted method to accelerate solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) degradation in the laboratory in order to accurately predict long-term degradation in the field. The objective of this work is to perform an in-depth analysis of stack degradation in SOFCs that have been in actual service (aged) from 1,000 to 25,000 or more hours. The work will focus on tubular stacks commercialized by Acumentrics. Project personnel will conduct a detailed spatial electrochemical characterization of aged SOFCs and a detailed spatial material characterization of tubular SOFCs using modern diagnostic tools. These data will be organized along with stack metadata (operating parameters, time, and geometrical position) into a database to correlate degradation data with the metadata in order to isolate patterns of degradation.
Project Benefits
The Acumentrics project will provide valuable insights into improving material selection and designs for the next generation of SOFC stacks. The project will result in a detailed data set (including cell performance and materials condition) for degradation of the standard material set found in many SOFCs.
Presentations, Papers, and Publications
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