Abstract
Steam methane reforming on SOFC anode was investigated considering its microstructure. As a typical anode material, Ni-YSZ (Yttria Stabilized Zirconia) cermet was examined. The performance of Ni-YSZ as reforming catalyst was experimentally tested at intermediate temperature around 600 ℃. After the reforming experiment, 3D microstructure of the porous cermet was observed and quantified by using the focused ion beam and scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM) technique. The obtained microstructural parameters were applied to the evaluation of reforming performance and CFD-based 2D simulation. It was found that when the reaction rate equation was evaluated based on the Ni surface area in the porous cermet, the simulation results agreed quite well with the experimental counterparts. The obtained reaction rate equation could be applied for cermets having different microstructure showing a possibility to control the reaction rate by tuning the microstructure of the anode.
