High Permeable Porous Substrate for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) with thick electrolyte layers suffer from poor permeability, leading to reduced hydrogen entry and water byproduct drainage, which can block hydrogen pathways and cause polarization voltage drops, affecting performance and long-term stability.
Innovation Solution
A high permeable porous substrate with channels penetrating only one surface is created using a production method involving a mold with protrusions, allowing for efficient hydrogen and water byproduct transmission through channels, reducing mass transfer paths and maintaining structural support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If the thickness of the support element is reduced to improve permeability, then hydrogen and water byproduct transmission is improved, but the mechanical strength of the support element is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The support element is segmented into multiple functional layers: a porous metal substrate layer providing mechanical strength, and a porous ceramic layer providing chemical stability and additional permeability. This segmentation allows each layer to specialize in its primary function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining porous metal substrate and porous ceramic material. The metal substrate (e.g., stainless steel, nickel alloy) provides high mechanical strength and permeability, while the ceramic coating (e.g., YSZ, LSM) provides chemical stability at high temperatures and catalytic activity. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between strength and permeability.
2Power
If the thickness of the electrolyte layer is reduced to decrease ohmic resistance, then output power is improved, but the mechanical support capability is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The cell structure is segmented so that the porous metal substrate serves as the primary mechanical support, allowing the electrolyte layer to be made very thin without compromising overall structural integrity. The support element's thickness is decoupled from the electrolyte layer thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous metal substrate acts as an intermediary between the electrolyte layer and the external environment, providing mechanical support and facilitating mass transport. This intermediary structure allows the electrolyte to be thin while maintaining structural stability through the substrate's support.
3Strength
If the thickness of the support element is increased to provide mechanical support, then structural stability is improved, but hydrogen transmission and water drainage are hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The support element uses porous metal substrate with controlled porosity (30-70%) and pore size (1-100 micrometers) to achieve high permeability while maintaining mechanical strength. The porous structure provides numerous transmission pathways for hydrogen and water, reducing mass transfer resistance even in thicker elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure of porous metal substrate and porous ceramic layer creates a support element with optimized mass transfer properties. The interconnected pore networks in both layers facilitate efficient hydrogen transmission and water drainage, while the combined structure provides superior mechanical support compared to single-material solutions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances output power and fuel utilization efficiency of SOFCs by facilitating hydrogen and water byproduct transport while maintaining sufficient mechanical support, improving long-term operation stability.
Implementation Method 1
sintering the green part in reducing atmosphere at a high temperature so as to form a porous substrate body
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a high permeable porous substrate. The high permeable porous substrate includes a porous substrate body and a plurality of channels. The plurality of channels penetrate the first surface of the porous substrate body and do not penetrate the second surface of the porous substrate body. In addition, a solid oxide fuel cell supported by the high permeable porous substrate is also provided.