Influence of Heat Transfer on Thermal Stress Development in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: A Review

Noor Shieela Kalib; Andanastuti Muchtar; Mahendra RaoSomalu; Ahmad Kamal Ariffin Mohd Ihsan; Nurul Ashikin Mohd Nazrul Aman; Joelle Chia Wen Mah

Authors

Noor Shieela Kalib Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
Andanastuti Muchtar Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
Mahendra RaoSomalu Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
Ahmad Kamal Ariffin Mohd Ihsan Centre for Integrated Design for Advanced Mechanical System, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
Nurul Ashikin Mohd Nazrul Aman Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
Joelle Chia Wen Mah Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Keywords:

SOFC , thermal stress , heat transfer , temperature gradient

Abstract

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) directly convert chemical energy into electrical power with minimal carbon emission. However, maintaining consistently stable electrical power generation can be challengingforSOFCs thatoperate at high temperaturesranging from 600C1000C. Furthermore, the rigid SOFCassemblystack ispronetothe development ofthermal stress that leads to mechanical deformation, which subsequently shortens the lifetime of the SOFCsystem. Hence, identifying a uniform temperature gradient across the stackcan minimizethe thermal stress distribution across the stack and help prolong the service life of an SOFCsystem. This paper discussesthe sourceof generated heat, theheat transfer mechanism, and their relationwiththe temperaturegradient and thermal stress distribution.