Modelling metasurface patterned anode for enhanced performance of solid oxide electrolyser

Solid oxide electrolysers (SOE) are a promising type of technology of hydrogen production with the potential to be a part of the sustainable future of the energy sector. Advantageous efficiency of these devices is coming from the combined use of the heat and electrical energy. The current research proposes to improve the electrical efficiency of solid oxide electrolysers by fabricating a metasurface upon the standard porous anode layer of the electrolysis cell. The study considers the tubular cell design with the thick metallic support and several types of meta-elements, including squared shapes, lines parallel to the air flow and a net-structured surface. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis is performed for the 1/16 sector model of the tubular cell in parallel flow conditions to evaluate current density characteristics of the considered metasurfaces. As a result of this study, the net-structured metasurface is found to increase the current density by 8.5 %. • Tubular solid oxide electrolysis (SOE) cell investigated with the metallic support. • Introduced a metasurface-patterned anode structure for enhanced performance. • Simulations are performed for the 1/16th sector model of the short tubular cell. • Current density evaluated for four types of the porous anode metasurface. • Net-structure metasurface of the porous anode found to be the most efficient by 8.5 %.