管式固体氧化物燃料电池堆的研究进展

The progress on research and development of tubular solid oxide fuel cell stacks

固体氧化物燃料电池(SOFC)是一种高效、洁净的发电装置,其发电效率高、应用范围广,尤其适合作为分布式发电和热电联供系统,被认为是现阶段最有应用前景的绿色发电装置.管式结构电池堆是燃料电池中SOFC所特有的电池堆结构,虽然管式结构电池仍存在电流路径长、内电阻大、功率密度低、制造难度大以及成本高等问题,但其密封容易,具有现今燃料电池中最好的长期稳定性.因此,管式结构电池一直是燃料电池研究中的前沿和热点方向.本文介绍了近年来国内外管式固体氧化物燃料电池堆的研究进展,以及国际上具代表性研发单位的最新技术现状,并提出了管式SOFC在商业化进程中亟待解决的问题.

Solid oxide fuel cells （SOFCs） are electrochemical reactors that can directly convert the chemical energy of a fuel into electrical energy with high efficiency and in an environment-friendly way. SOFC technology is most suited for applications in the distributed power generation and combined heat and power system, which has been regarded as one of the most advanced power generation systems in the near future. The tubular fuel cell stack fabricated by assembling the bundles of tubular single ceils is a special structure for SOFC compared with other types of fuel cells which nearly all apply planar structure. Tubular SOFC stack can be easily sealed at cool end and thereby have very high long-term stability. It has presented the best long-term stability within all types of current fuel cells and thereby has been one of the most important highlights in fuel cell fields. However, it also has some disadvantages such as the high cell ohmic resistance caused by long current route, low power density, complicated fabrication process and high fabrication cost. In this paper, the recent progress on the research and development of tubular SOFC stack is reviewed including the structures, designs and fabrication techniques of the stack. The state of the art technologies and up-to-date achievements of the companies and institutes which represent the leading technologies in SOFC fields are introduced as well. Finally, some key issues needed to be addressed for promoting the commercialization processes of tubular SOFC stacks are put forward.