Numerical investigation of thermo-electro-mechanical behavior in solid oxide fuel cells with novel traps design interconnects for enhanced mass transfer

Recent efforts in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) research have prioritized performance optimization by addressing reported issues and improving fundamental mechanisms. This paper opens the doors to the enhancement of SOFC performance through traps-designed interconnects, aimed at enhancing mass transfer and electrochemical conversion efficiency. A numerical investigation is conducted to analyze the effects of traps, including their number and three-dimensional size (length, width, and height), on SOFC behavior. Results show that the traps design effectively addresses the widely reported issue of poor reactants’ distribution in the under-rib areas. Additionally, increasing traps’ size enhances SOFC performance, with traps length identified as the primary contributor to improvement. However, variations in traps width exhibited inconsistencies in its impact. As a result, these parameters were carefully optimized for the optimal performance. The optimal configuration for a three-traps design is determined to be 12 mm in length, 0.3 mm in width, and 1 mm in height, resulting in a 14% increase in power output compared to conventional design. A thermo-mechanical analysis is also conducted, revealing that the electrical performance comes as a compromise with the mechanical stability of the cell. Specifically, an increase in thermal stresses around traps corners is observed, resulting in a significant rise in the probability of electrolyte failure probability. The authors suggest incorporating support layers or further optimizing trap shapes with mechanical stresses as a study constraint to enhance SOFC durability in response to these findings.