Investigating the effect of thermal gradients on stress in solid oxide fuel cell anodes using combined synchrotron radiation and thermal imaging

James B. Robinson, Leon D. Brown, Rhodri Jervis, Oluwadamilola O. Taiwo, Thomas M.M. Heenan, Jason Millichamp, Thomas J. Mason, Tobias P. Neville, Ralph Clague, David S. Eastwood, Christina Reinhard, Peter D. Lee, Daniel J.L. Brett, Paul R. Shearing*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Thermal gradients can arise within solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) due to start-up and shut-down, non-uniform gas distribution, fast cycling and operation under internal reforming conditions. Here, the effects of operationally relevant thermal gradients on Ni/YSZ SOFC anode half cells are investigated using combined synchrotron X-ray diffraction and thermal imaging. The combination of these techniques has identified significant deviation from linear thermal expansion behaviour in a sample exposed to a one dimensional thermal gradient. Stress gradients are identified along isothermal regions due to the presence of a proximate thermal gradient, with tensile stress deviations of up to 75MPa being observed across the sample at a constant temperature. Significant strain is also observed due to the presence of thermal gradients when compared to work carried out at isothermal conditions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)473-481
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Power Sources
Volume288
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Aug 2015

Keywords

  • Infrared imaging
  • Solid oxide fuel cell
  • Stress analysis
  • Synchrotron radiation
  • Thermal imaging
  • X-ray diffraction

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