SOFC-SALT - Solid Oxide Fuel Cell – Stationary Accelerated Life Testing

High temperature fuel cells (SOFCs) are an efficient and sustainable technology for reducing Austria’s CO2 emissions while meeting its energy demands. For stationary SOFC systems there is a strong requirement for developments in order to increase the system’s lifetime and reliability. This is a critical and unresolved theme, which prevented the broad market launch so far. Currently system integrators do not have the possibility of qualifying SOFC stack reliability and durability within their systems/products. The consortium is convinced that there is a strong research requirement for new methods that qualify the reliability and durability of SOFC stacks. Within the proposed research project, a new methodology shall be developed, which allows the statistical qualification of the most important failure modes of stationary SOFC stacks via meaningful acceleration factors. For this purpose, experimental data for the degradation of SOFC components, cells and stacks will be generated within this project for various, application-oriented test conditions. Via (future) development and application of simulation tools, measurement and test systems, fundamentally new data shall be obtained that allows the estimation of meaningful acceleration factors for some of the most important failure modes of stationary SOFC operation. Fundamental research from the academic partners is an essential factor for accomplishing this objective. Montanuniversität Leoben will perform experimental, fundamental research oriented investigations of the long-term degradation of SOFC cathode materials and cathode-electrolyte interfaces. Furthermore, Montanuniversität Leoben will support the consortium by delivering results of electrochemical and kinetic measurements as well as performing post mortem analysis. At TU Graz, tests will be executed that will deliver new data of the stability of cells/stacks against (combined) poisoning reactions and mechanical strain under application-oriented conditions. IKTS will support in provision of the SOFC hardware and will cooperate as indicated in the LOI included in the Appendix. Based on those research activities, AVL will integrate the data/insights gained into the development of the reliability- and durability diagnosis tools. This methodology, based on physical and engineering principles, shall be validated with a proof-of-concept reliability and durability test. Finally, the methodology for the electrochemical system monitoring and diagnosis shall contribute to practical and cost effective enhancements in the field of durability and reliability of stationary SOFC systems.