Modeling and simulation of temperature distribution for planar cross-flow solid oxide fuel cell

Abstract Solid oxide fuel cell is a device that can convert chemical energy directly into electricity. Its advantages, such as high efficiency, low emission, quiet operation, fuel flexibility, bring about the broad application prospect. However, it is difficult to obtain the temperature distribution in the existing planar cross flow solid oxide fuel cell through the experiment. In this paper, a control orient two-dimensional differential equation model is established for a planar cross flow solid oxide fuel cell based on the finite node method, and an iterative algorithm for calculating the real time voltage of the fuel cell is proposed for the model. Based on the model, the temperature distribution of the fuel cell in the test and system configuration is simulated. The simulation results show that the model can reflect the thermoelectric characteristics of the planar cross flow solid oxide fuel cell, especially the temperature distribution of the fuel cell. The SOFC temperature distribution modeling in this paper is helpful for the development of temperature distribution observers and design related control methods in later studies.