A Numerical Comparison of a Gas Flow Channel Geometry Impact on a Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Thermal Behavior

Thermal management of high-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (HT-SOFCs) is very important especially in long-term applications.Anode and cathode channels geometry plays a key factor on thermal behavior of SOFCs.In this study, different schemes of gas flow cross-sectional channels are examined and compared.The study procedure is considered in two steps.First, a comparison between different rectangular cross sections gas channels with different aspect ratios is carried out and then, the scheme having less temperature gradient as a base case for second step to examine with the other two shapes including triangular and semicircular geometries in this study with the aim of improving temperature uniformity.For this purpose, the validated CFD code used for solving fullycoupled mass, continuity, momentum, charge and energy transport equations in three dimensions under steady state conditions.Results show that wider cathode channel and narrower anode channel when using rectangular electrode channels are more suitable in long-term applications.Furthermore, rectangular and triangular geometries, in comparison with the semicircular one, are preferred.Eventually, to fulfill the channel geometry effect on the cell thermal behavior, the parametric study is performed.