Experimental Validation of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell's Basic Operational Characteristic

The technology of fuel cells and mainly the solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) is still subject to a fairly intense development for its unforgettable competitive advantage, the opportunity to use relatively cheap and accessible hydrocarbon fossil fuels or other synthetic fuels containing hydrogen molecules. These fuel cells are mainly intended for application in power systems for combined production of electric power and heat (co-generation) or for an additional production of electric power to improve the energetic balance of other power technologies. Technologies proven through experiments and procedures employed in production of SOFC fuel cells have shown sound operating parameters during laboratory testing and these will be prepared for application into actual power equipment within a medium-term horizon, for gradual commercialisation and even preparation for serial production, according to some optimistic perspectives. The contents of this paper should bring a closer look onto the technology of fuel cells, the SOFC type fuel cells respectively, their basic topology, operating principle and the last but not the least would be the presentation of procedures implemented in application and results of testing of a specific prototype design of a high-temperature tubular SOFC fuel cell.