Testing device and detection method for solid oxide fuel cell

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of solid oxides, in particular to a testing device and a detection method for a solid oxide fuel cell. Comprising a semi-clamp (5), a vermiculite sheet (6), a connecting body (7) and a vermiculite sealing ring (8), wherein the semi-clamp (5) comprises an air inlet (1), an air outlet (2), a clamp upper surface air inlet (3) and a clamp upper surface air outlet (4); and the air inlet (3) on the upper surface of the clamp is a round hole formed in the surface of the half clamp (5) and is communicated with the air inlet (1). According to the testing method, the performance of the solid oxide fuel cell on the industrial application level can be simulated, and meanwhile, the influence on the performance of the solid oxide fuel cell on the industrial application level such as a connector coating, a sealing material and a cell collector layer can be tested.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of solid oxide, and specifically, to a test device and a detection method for a solid oxide fuel cell. Background Art

[0002] A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is an all-solid-state power generation device that directly converts the chemical energy in fuel into electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction. Before large-scale assembly of the stack, it is necessary to perform electrochemical performance tests on single cells. The electrochemical performance tests of solid oxide fuel cells and electrolytic cells can characterize the physical and chemical properties of the cells at the working temperature and environment in many aspects, and are the most important and main test methods for measuring the quality of the cells. However, the current research and development of standard test devices is basically still at the level of simple cell testing. In order to reduce power loss during the cell testing process, ceramic test fixtures are usually used. This test method cannot represent the performance of the cell at the industrial application level. There are many influencing factors on the cell performance at the stack level. For example, the input of air on the air side will cause oxidation of the metal interconnect and precipitation of chromium; the thermal expansion coefficients of the interconnect and the cell do not match at high temperatures, etc. These influencing factors often cause the performance of solid oxide fuel cells in actual applications to be greatly reduced. The above problems need to be urgently solved in the current test methods for industrial-grade solid oxide fuel cells.

[0003] Chinese Utility Model Patent CN222028383U discloses a test fixture for a fuel cell interconnect, including: a clamping plate for clamping the fuel cell interconnect and being electrically connected to the fuel cell interconnect; a lower base provided with a receiving area for placing the clamping plate and the fuel cell interconnect located between the clamping plates; an upper base for being concavo-convexly fitted and connected with the lower base in the vertical direction to press on the clamping plate so that the clamping plate clamps the fuel cell interconnect. The test fixture for the fuel cell interconnect provided by the present invention can realize the surface resistance test of the solid oxide fuel cell interconnect and the conductive reinforcing coating, has a simple assembly, wide applicability, can be in parallel for multiple groups, and improves the test efficiency, but there are certain sealing problems, which affect the accuracy of detection. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The first aspect of the present invention provides a test device for a solid oxide fuel cell, including the following components: a half fixture, a vermiculite sheet, an interconnect, a vermiculite sealing ring. The half fixture includes an air inlet, an air outlet, an air inlet on the upper surface of the fixture, and an air outlet on the upper surface of the fixture. The air inlet on the upper surface of the fixture is a round hole provided on the surface of the half fixture and is communicated with the air inlet. The air outlet on the upper surface of the fixture is a round hole provided on the surface of the half fixture and is communicated with the air outlet. The number of the half fixture, the vermiculite sheet, the interconnect, and the vermiculite sealing ring is 2.

[0005] The vermiculite sheet and the connector leave a first long strip-shaped gap on the upper and lower sides; the connector leaves a second long strip-shaped gap on the upper and lower sides, and the connector also leaves a circular gap on the lower side; the vermiculite sealing ring is of an annular structure.

[0006] The second aspect of the present invention provides a method for testing a solid oxide fuel cell by a testing device, comprising the following steps:

[0007] S1, coat glue on the upper surface of the half fixture, and then place the vermiculite sheet on the upper surface of the half fixture, so that the first long strip-shaped gap is aligned with the air inlet on the upper surface of the fixture and the air outlet on the upper surface of the fixture;

[0008] S2, coat the anode current collector layer NiO slurry in the middle area of the connector, and then place the connector on the vermiculite sheet, so that the surface without coating the anode current collector layer NiO slurry contacts the vermiculite sheet, and the second long strip-shaped gap is aligned with the first long strip-shaped gap;

[0009] S3, select nickel foam to cover the area of the NiO current collector layer slurry, and then select a voltage wire to be placed on the nickel foam;

[0010] S4, place the vermiculite sealing ring on the connector, so that the edge positions of the vermiculite sealing ring and the connector are aligned, and the vermiculite sealing ring does not contact the anode current collector layer NiO slurry and the nickel foam;

[0011] S5, coat the anode current collector layer NiO slurry on the fuel electrode of the solid oxide fuel cell, and then place the fuel electrode on the vermiculite sealing ring, so that the fuel electrode coated with the anode current collector layer NiO slurry contacts the nickel foam and does not contact the vermiculite sealing ring, and the voltage wire is located between the fuel electrode and the nickel foam;

[0012] S6, coat the air electrode current collector layer slurry on the air electrode of the solid oxide fuel cell, and then sequentially place the voltage wire, the silver mesh and the vermiculite sealing ring on the air electrode current collector layer slurry, so that the vermiculite sealing ring does not contact the silver mesh, the air electrode and the air electrode current collector layer slurry;

[0013] S7, place another connector on the silver mesh, so that the second long strip-shaped gap is aligned with the first long strip-shaped gap;

[0014] S8, place another vermiculite sheet on the other connector, and then place another half fixture on the other vermiculite sheet, so that the air inlet on the upper surface of the other half fixture and the air outlet on the upper surface of the fixture are aligned with the first long strip-shaped gap, and one side of the air inlet on the upper surface of the other half fixture contacts the other vermiculite sheet, to obtain a testing device for setting the solid oxide fuel cell;

[0015] S9. Fix the test device with a heavy object of 20 - 100 kg. Select bolts to fix the two connectors through the circular gaps, and then fix the current wire on the two connectors with bolts. Then place the test device in the test furnace, set the test temperature, and conduct the ventilation test from the air inlet.

[0016] Through the specific device settings of this application, the input of air on the air side is reduced, resulting in problems such as the oxidation of the metal connector and the precipitation of chromium; the problem of the mismatch of the thermal expansion coefficients between the connector and the battery at high temperatures is solved. It can not only simulate the performance of solid oxide fuel cells at the industrial application level, but also test the influence of connector coatings, sealing materials, battery current collectors, etc. on the performance of solid oxide fuel cells at the industrial application level.

[0017] The material of the connector includes one of the following grades of alloys: SUS430, SUS441, Crofer22APU, ZMG232, E-brite.

[0018] The components of the NiO slurry for the anode current collector layer include: 20 - 30 wt% of terpineol, 1 - 6 wt% of ethyl cellulose, and the balance is made up of NiO powder.

[0019] The particle size of the NiO slurry for the anode current collector layer is less than 3 microns.

[0020] The voltage wire includes at least one of gold wire, silver wire, and platinum wire.

[0021] The thickness of the nickel foam is not less than the thickness of the vermiculite sealing ring.

[0022] The thickness of the silver mesh is not less than the thickness of the vermiculite sealing ring.

[0023] The contact surface between the connector and the silver mesh contains a coating, and the coating is prepared by plasma spraying or thermal spraying.

[0024] Optionally, when testing the fuel electrode-supported battery, a step needs to be added before step S6. Apply sealant glass on the side of the battery on the vermiculite sealing ring to seal the edge of the fuel electrode to prevent air leakage.

[0025] Beneficial effects

[0026] 1. The device of this application has a simple design, low cost, can be reused for a long time, and the vulnerable parts are the vermiculite sealing ring and the cathode-side connector plate, and the replacement is simple and cheap.

[0027] 2. The test method of the solid oxide fuel cell of this application is simple, convenient, and has high repeatability.

[0028] 3. The performance of the solid oxide fuel cell tested by the method of the present application is closer to the performance at the industrial application level, which is more practically significant for the stacking and assembly of the stack and system levels.

[0029] 4. The test method of the present application can simultaneously test the influence of self-made interconnect coatings, sealing materials, battery current collectors, etc. on the performance of solid oxide fuel cells at the industrial application level.

[0030] 5. The test method of the present application has a simple seal, good sealing effect, and the open circuit voltage of the solid oxide fuel cell tested is close to the theoretical open circuit voltage. Description of the Drawings

[0031] Figure 1 It is a test device for a solid oxide fuel cell in Example 1.

[0032] Figure 2 It is the test data of an industrial stack with 35 cells stacked in Example 1.

[0033] Figure 3 It is the test data of a single cell in Example 2.

[0034] Figure 4 It is the test data of a single cell in Comparative Example 1.

[0035] Among them: 1, air inlet; 2, air outlet; 3, air inlet on the upper surface of the fixture; 4, air outlet on the upper surface of the fixture; 5, half fixture; 6, vermiculite sheet; 7, interconnect; 8, vermiculite sealing ring; 9, second long strip-shaped gap; 10, first long strip-shaped gap; 11, circular gap. Detailed Embodiments

[0036] Example 1

[0037] A test device for a solid oxide fuel cell, as Figure 1 shown, includes the following components: half fixture 5, vermiculite sheet 6, interconnect 7, vermiculite sealing ring 8. The half fixture 5 includes an air inlet 1, an air outlet 2, an air inlet 3 on the upper surface of the fixture, and an air outlet 4 on the upper surface of the fixture. The air inlet 3 on the upper surface of the fixture is a round hole provided on the surface of the half fixture 5 and communicates with the air inlet 1. The air outlet 4 on the upper surface of the fixture is a round hole provided on the surface of the half fixture 5 and communicates with the air outlet 2. The numbers of the half fixture 5, vermiculite sheet 6, interconnect 7, and vermiculite sealing ring 8 are all 2.

[0038] The vermiculite sheet 6 and the interconnect 7 leave a first long strip-shaped gap 10 on the upper and lower sides. The interconnect 7 leaves a second long strip-shaped gap 9 on the upper and lower sides, and the interconnect 7 also leaves a circular gap 11 on the lower side. The vermiculite sealing ring 8 is an annular structure.

[0039] A method for a test device to detect a solid oxide fuel cell, comprising the following steps:

[0040] S1, coat glue on the upper surface of the half fixture 5, and then place the vermiculite sheet 6 on the upper surface of the half fixture 5 so that the first long strip-shaped gap 10 is aligned with the air inlet 3 on the upper surface of the fixture and the air outlet 4 on the upper surface of the fixture;

[0041] S2, coat the anode current collector layer NiO paste in the middle area of the connector 7, and then place the connector 7 on the vermiculite sheet 6 so that the surface without the coated anode current collector layer NiO paste contacts the vermiculite sheet 6, and align the second long strip-shaped gap 9 with the first long strip-shaped gap 10;

[0042] S3, select nickel foam to cover the area of the NiO current collector layer paste, and then select a voltage wire and place it on the nickel foam;

[0043] S4, place the vermiculite sealing ring 8 on the connector 7 so that the edge positions of the vermiculite sealing ring 8 and the connector 7 are aligned, and the vermiculite sealing ring 8 does not contact the anode current collector layer NiO paste and the nickel foam;

[0044] S5, coat the anode current collector layer NiO paste on the fuel electrode of the fuel electrode-supported solid oxide fuel cell, and then place the fuel electrode on the vermiculite sealing ring 8 so that the fuel electrode coated with the anode current collector layer NiO paste contacts the nickel foam and does not contact the vermiculite sealing ring, and the voltage wire is located between the fuel electrode and the nickel foam;

[0045] S6, on the vermiculite sealing ring 8, apply a sealing glass glue on the side of the battery, coat the air electrode current collector layer paste on the air electrode of the fuel electrode-supported solid oxide fuel cell, and then sequentially place the voltage wire, the silver mesh and the vermiculite sealing ring 8 on the air electrode current collector layer paste so that the vermiculite sealing ring 8 does not contact the silver mesh, the air electrode and the air electrode current collector layer paste;

[0046] S7, place another connector 7 on the silver mesh so that the second long strip-shaped gap 9 is aligned with the first long strip-shaped gap 10;

[0047] S8, place another vermiculite sheet 6 on the another connector 7, and then place another half fixture 5 on the another vermiculite sheet 6 so that the air inlet 3 on the upper surface of the another half fixture 5 and the air outlet 4 on the upper surface of the fixture are aligned with the first long strip-shaped gap 10, and one side of the air inlet 3 on the upper surface of the another half fixture 5 contacts the another vermiculite sheet 6 to obtain a test device for setting a solid oxide fuel cell;

[0048] S9. Fix the test device with a 60 kg weight. Select bolts to fix the two connectors 7 through the circular gap 11, and then fix the current wire on the two connectors 7 with bolts. Then place the test device in the test furnace, set the test temperature to 750 °C, and conduct a ventilation test from the air inlet 1.

[0049] The fuel electrode-supported solid oxide fuel cell is an industrial stack of 35 cell stacks.

[0050] The material of the connector 7 is SUS430; the components of the anode current collector layer NiO slurry: 26 wt% of terpineol, 4 wt% of ethyl cellulose, and the balance is made up of NiO powder; the particle size of the anode current collector layer NiO slurry is 2 microns; the voltage wire is a platinum wire; the thickness of the nickel foam is equal to the thickness of the vermiculite sealing ring 8; the thickness of the silver mesh is equal to the thickness of the vermiculite sealing ring 8; the contact surface between the connector 7 and the silver mesh contains a coating, and the coating is prepared by plasma spraying.

[0051] Example 2

[0052] The specific implementation method is the same as that of Example 1; the difference is that the fuel electrode-supported solid oxide fuel cell in Example 2 is a single cell.

[0053] Comparative Example 1

[0054] Use the ceramic fixture in CN202311282388.4 (Test tooling and fixture for high-temperature testing of SOFC stacks) to test a single cell (fuel electrode-supported solid oxide fuel cell).

[0055] Performance test data

[0056] Test the SOFC stack with 35 cells in the examples and comparative examples. The actual measured data of a single cell has a useful area of 81 cm 2 . The test data is as Figures 2-4 shown. Figure 2 In the stack test data shown, the power density of a single cell at 0.7 V is about 370 mw / cm 2 . For the batteries of the same batch, under the test fixture and test method described in this patent, the power density of a single cell at 0.7 V is about 480 mw / cm 2 . The power density of a single cell tested with a ceramic fixture is about 910 mw / cm 2 . Therefore, the data tested by the test fixture and test method proposed in this patent is closer to the performance of a single cell in an industrial application stack.

Claims

1. A test device for a solid oxide fuel cell, characterized in that, It includes the following components: a half fixture (5), a vermiculite sheet (6), a connecting body (7), and a vermiculite sealing ring (8). The half fixture (5) includes an air inlet (1), an air outlet (2), an air inlet on the upper surface of the fixture (3), and an air outlet on the upper surface of the fixture (4). The air inlet on the upper surface of the fixture (3) is a round hole provided on the surface of the half fixture (5) and communicates with the air inlet (1). The air outlet on the upper surface of the fixture (4) is a round hole provided on the surface of the half fixture (5) and communicates with the air outlet (2). The number of the half fixture (5), the vermiculite sheet (6), the connecting body (7), and the vermiculite sealing ring (8) is 2 each.

2. The test device for a solid oxide fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein, A first long strip-shaped gap (10) is left between the upper and lower sides of the vermiculite sheet (6) and the connecting body (7). A second long strip-shaped gap (9) is left between the upper and lower sides of the connecting body (7), and a circular gap (11) is also left on the lower side of the connecting body (7). The vermiculite sealing ring (8) is of an annular structure.

3. A method for detecting a solid oxide fuel cell using the test device according to claim 2, characterized in that, It includes the following steps: S1. Coat glue on the upper surface of the half fixture (5), and then place the vermiculite sheet (6) on the upper surface of the half fixture (5) so that the first long strip-shaped gap (10) is aligned with the air inlet on the upper surface of the fixture (3) and the air outlet on the upper surface of the fixture (4). S2. Coat the anode current collector layer NiO paste in the middle area of the connecting body (7), and then place the connecting body (7) on the vermiculite sheet (6) so that the surface without the coated anode current collector layer NiO paste contacts the vermiculite sheet (6), and the second long strip-shaped gap (9) is aligned with the first long strip-shaped gap (10). S3. Select a nickel foam to cover the area of the NiO current collector layer paste, and then select a voltage wire and place it on the nickel foam. S4. Place the vermiculite sealing ring (8) on the connecting body (7) so that the edges of the vermiculite sealing ring (8) and the connecting body (7) are aligned, and the vermiculite sealing ring (8) does not contact the anode current collector layer NiO paste and the nickel foam. S5. Coat the anode current collector layer NiO paste on the fuel electrode of the solid oxide fuel cell, and then place the fuel electrode on the vermiculite sealing ring (8) so that the fuel electrode with the coated anode current collector layer NiO paste contacts the nickel foam and does not contact the vermiculite sealing ring, and the voltage wire is located between the fuel electrode and the nickel foam. S6. Coat the air electrode current collector layer paste on the air electrode of the solid oxide fuel cell, and then sequentially place the voltage wire, the silver mesh, and the vermiculite sealing ring (8) on the air electrode current collector layer paste so that the vermiculite sealing ring (8) does not contact the silver mesh, the air electrode, and the air electrode current collector layer paste. S7. Place another connecting body (7) on the silver mesh so that the second long strip-shaped gap (9) is aligned with the first long strip-shaped gap (10). S8. Place another vermiculite sheet (6) on the other connector (7), and then place another half-jig (5) on the other vermiculite sheet (6), aligning the air inlet (3) on the upper surface of the other half-jig (5) and the air outlet (4) on the upper surface of the jig with the position of the first elongated gap (10), and making one side of the air inlet (3) on the upper surface of the other half-jig (5) in contact with the other vermiculite sheet (6) to obtain a test device for setting up a solid oxide fuel cell. S9. Fix the test device with a weight of 20 - 100 kg, select bolts to fix the two connectors (7) through the circular gap (11), and then fix the current wire on the two connectors (7) with bolts; then place the test device in a test furnace, set the test temperature, and conduct a ventilation test from the air inlet (1).

4. The method for detecting a solid oxide fuel cell by the testing device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The material of the connector (7) includes one of the following grade alloys: SUS430, SUS441, Crofer22APU, ZMG232, E-brite.

5. The method for detecting a solid oxide fuel cell by the testing device according to claim 3, characterized in that The components of the NiO slurry for the anode current collector layer include: 20 - 30 wt% of terpineol, 1 - 6 wt% of ethyl cellulose, and the balance is made up of NiO powder.

6. The method for detecting a solid oxide fuel cell by the testing device according to claim 3, wherein The particle size of the NiO slurry for the anode current collector layer is less than 3 microns.

7. The method for detecting a solid oxide fuel cell by the test device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The voltage line includes at least one of gold wire, silver wire, and platinum wire.

8. The method for detecting a solid oxide fuel cell by the test device according to claim 3, wherein, The thickness of the nickel foam is not less than the thickness of the vermiculite sealing ring (8).

9. The method for detecting a solid oxide fuel cell by the test device according to claim 3, characterized in that The thickness of the silver mesh is not less than the thickness of the vermiculite sealing ring (8).

10. The method for detecting a solid oxide fuel cell by the test device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The contact surface between the connector (7) and the silver mesh contains a coating, and the coating is prepared by plasma spraying or thermal spraying.

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