Portable, Moderate-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Compared to conventional power sources, fuel cell systems present such benefits as high efficiency, low emissions, long life, and near silent operation. Of the various fuel cell types, Solid oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) have a number of advantages in hydrocarbon fuel applications because of their solid-state construction and high temperature operation. Presently, SOFCs operate in the temperature range of 800 D 1,000¡C. For a portable system however, a significant reduction in operating temperature to 550¡C or below is desirable. The lower operating temperature would improve start up time, provide materials and performance stability, and improve portability. An innovative materials set and cell design are proposed to meet the stringent requirements demanded in portable applications. A novel materials set will be used to achieve high performance at the medium operating temperature. A compact cell design will be used to accomplish the rapid start-up and shut-down times, and the multiple thermal cycles required for a portable system.