Test and Modelling of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Durability: A Focus on Interconnect Role on Global Degradation

High-temperature fuel cells are a promising technology due to their high energy efficiency and low environmental impacts compared conventional engines. Nevertheless, they have limited lifetime which reduces the use few application fields. Among them, Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) had recent development at industrial level in two possible configurations: anode- electrolyte-supported design. Considering impossibility experimentally distinguish effects of every degradation mechanism on global cell performance, each layer should be tested singularly through ex situ tests then assembled into virgin evaluate its role whole system by tests. However, this procedure results as quite complex, some further microstructural changes could occur during sintering. In order overcome these constraints, proposed approach paired experimental observations single element with modelling SOFC. As case study, CoMnO/Crofer22 APU CuMnO/AISI 441 interconnect samples were tested, measuring resistance variation for hundreds hours, followed detailed post-mortem analysis. Based previously validated local model, SIMFC (SIMulation Cells), durability commercial was simulated, adding specific functions only interconnects highlight influence SOFC performance.