RNEW 310 Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Project

RNEW 310 Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Project 10/08/2020
Name:_______________________________
Do not speak with or provide information to any other person, other than your instructor, about the
project. Other than these restrictions, you may use any resources that you can find at Alfred
University, including but not limited to your notes, book, library, computer, etc. Most of you will find
that your knowledges, skills and abilities, use of your book, as well as development of your own
Microsoft excel spreadsheet (formulations) with appropriate graphic presentation of data are sufficient
resources to complete this project.
(100 points) Model within an excel spreadsheet a solid oxide fuel cell that uses hydrogen gas and air as
reactants to produce water and energy in the forms of electricity and heat.
A – (20 points)
Starting with reactants, hydrogen and oxygen gas, and product water/water vapor, whose properties
dependent upon temperature, calculate the Gibb’s free energy of each (hydrogen, oxygen and
water//water vapor) for the temperature range 300 K to 1500 K in increments of 20 K. Also, determine
the maximum thermodynamic EMF (electromotive force in volts) and maximum efficiency for each
temperature of operation. Use an excel spreadsheet and show the calculations for each (entropy,
enthalpy, Gibbs energy, efficiency, EMF) as a function of temperature plot the data.
B – (20 points) From the table below, consider using a particular metal within your fuel cell (for
electrodes and activation). Discuss why you may or may not consider utilizing each one. Think in terms
of possible reactions (the depletion of metal), as well as trade-offs in economics (cost), efficiency and
fuel cell lifetime. Which material(s) would you choose? For the material you choose, calculate and plot
the activation loss:
making T,α, n, j, jL adjustable parameters within the calculation.
RNEW 310 Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Project 10/08/2020
Name:_______________________________
C – (20 points) From the resistivity table below and from the ionic diffusivity parameters from the graph
below, calculate the ohmic loss:
and recall
so that the equation can be rewritten in an easier to use form:
η