An Electrochemical Study of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stack Operating at Intermediate Temperature for Distributed Generation Applications

A state-of-the-art Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (IT-SOFC) stack was investigated. The stack was a pre-commercial one, with a nominal power output of 600W. The study was focused on the electrical performance and the possible thermal energy recovery. Moreover, to evaluate the technology limitations for Distributed Generation (DG) applications, a 15 h test cycle with slow electrical power variation was performed. At the end of the tests, it was envisaged the capability of proper energy conversion efficiency. This technology appears promising for the high conversion efficiency of natural gas chemical energy into electrical energy, with proper perspectives for distributed generation.