Thermal Cycling Evaluation of Rolled Tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Rolled tubular solid oxide fuel cells are manufactured in a low-cost single step firing process, so the design offers reduced production cost. All components are produced using a low cost tape casting method and are fired as a single unit. The geometry is self–supporting which removes the need for thick cell components further reducing cell cost and offering increased volumetric power densities. Here we present the results from some early studies on the influence of fast thermal cycling on performance characteristics. Thermal cycles were carried out heating and cooling at 10 °C min⁻¹ between 400 and 800 °C. Less than 1% performance drop was calculated for the single cell and 5% drop was observed on the fourth cycle for the five cell bundle.