Performance Simulation of Tubular Segmented-in-Series SOFC Using Simplified Equivalent Circuit

In this study, the authors proposed a calculation method incorporating complex current path in simulation of tubular segmented-in-series SOFC. In the proposed method, a detailed equivalent circuit with many resistance elements is utilized in the preprocessing of the calculation. In the detailed equivalent circuit, the large number of resistances are required to secure convergence in the numerical result. However, since the detailed equivalent circuit where many resistance elements are required is utilized only in the preprocessing, the proposed method has the merit of saving calculation load. Afterwards, the effect of the complex current path inside the single cell of the tubular segmented-in-series SOFC on the calculation result was discussed. From the investigation, there exists the effect of the complex current path on the calculation result for the tubular segmented-in-series SOFC. Thus, the proposed method is effective to simulate the performance of the tubular segmented-in-series SOFC.