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Figure 44: Schematics of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
3.3.1 Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC)
Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have emerged as energy conversion devices in achieving high efficiency of over 70 % with cogeneration. It has significant environmental benefits in terms of fuel flexibility (hydrocarbons and municipal waste). However, the practical implications (domestic and industrial) of SOFCs have not been realised as it has a high material cost (of electrodes, electrolyte, and interconnect) and mechanical failure at high operating temperatures (800-1000 °C). Such problems limited the development of SOFCs to a greater extent. Reducing the operating temperature generally decreases the ionic conductivity of current zirconia-based electrolytes (e.g. yttria stabilised zirconia, YSZ). Also, the performance of Ni-based anode composite materials (e.g. Ni-YSZ) is limited due to carbon deposition and sulphur poisoning when it is operated in hydrocarbon fuel. Figure 44 shows the schematics of a solid oxide fuel cell.
