Abstract
As same as in other type cells, the electromotive force in a tubular type cell is relatively high at the fuel inlet and the oxidizer inlet, therefore the current tends to concentrate there. And also the current distribution is greatly influenced by the resistivities, thickness and the dimensions of the electrolyte and the electrodes.
To investigate the current concentration, a simulation model has been made in which the effects of resistivity, thickness and dimension are simulated by the ladder circuit and the effect of the gas flow is simulated by the 2 dimensional flow taking into consideration of the gas diffusion. The current concentrations are predicted to be alleviated by the effect of gas diffusion, and the efficiencies are decreased by the gas concentration polarizations. And the appropriate segmentation of the power generating area is also effective in alleviating the current concentration to increase the power generating efficiency both in the ETL type cells and the WH type cells, especially in the ETL type cells.
