Evaluation of a non-sealed solid oxide fuel cell stack with cells embedded in plane configuration

A non-sealed solid oxide fuel cell stack with cells embedded in plane configuration was fabricated and operated successfully in a box-like stainless-steel chamber. For a two-cell stack, it demonstrated an open circuit voltage (OCV) of 2.13V and a maximum power output of 569mW at the flow rate of 67sccm CH ₄ and 33sccm O ₂. A fuel utilization of 4.16% was obtained. The cell performance was dominated by two different mechanisms, the polarization of the cathode at low current and the concentration polarization of the anode at high current. Finally, a scaled-up stack with six cells in series generated an OCV of 6.4V and a maximum power output of 8.18W.