Solid Oxide Fuel Technology

Solid oxide fuel cell technology is where solid oxide fuel cells produce electricity and heat (by-product), through an electrochemical process, from hydrogen or hydrogen-containing fuel.

A solid oxide fuel cell is a thin (ca 0,4mm) ceramic plate that contains different material layers with a complex porous system.

Solid oxide fuel cells have three main components: anode, cathode and electrolyte. The anode and cathode have a relatively high porosity, which allows gasses to pass through them. The cathode side receives oxygen (from air), and the anode receives fuel, e.g., hydrogen (or its mixture with carbon monoxide if the hydrogen is derived from a hydrocarbon fuel source). The electrolyte, between the anode and cathode, is dense and conducts oxygen ions from the cathode to the anode.

As the negatively charged oxygen ion combines with hydrogen, hydrogen transforms from H2 to H2O – water. The negatively charged oxygen ions on the anode side supply electrons that return through an external load to the electron deficient cathode side, producing a flow of electrons, or electricity. Due to the electrochemical process and the resistance in the solid ceramic electrolyte, heat is generated as a by-product that can be then reused to increase the overall system efficiency.

Single cells provide limited amounts of power and are therefore combined into stacks. A stack consists of multiple single cells, which are separated by similarly shaped metal interconnector plates. These connect single cells in series and contain channels for air and fuel distribution.

One or multiple stacks integrated into a fuel cell system. A fuel cell system contains various components for fuel distribution, thermal management, power conversion, controls etc (Balance of Plant (BoP) components). These systems can generate efficient power in multiple applications – residential, commercial, industrial and transportation.

Fuel cell systems have the potential to reshape how the world is powered, enabling efficient, clean, and reliable off grid energy generation. They can help us sharply reduce our use of fossil fuels, moving away from fuels such as coal to cleaner sources and eventually to renewably generated hydrogen.