Numerical investigation of a novel rhombohedral interconnector configuration for planar solid oxide fuel cells

In this article, a novel rhombohedral interconnector with a staggered position is proposed by considering the influence of flow field variations on heat and mass transfer. The rhombohedral staggered interconnectors help to alter the fluid flow patterns in the flow channels, leading to an improvement in heat and mass transport behavior. It also assists to control the pressure distribution in the flow channels and improves the performance of anode-supported SOFCs. First, a comparison between existing experimental research and a traditional rectangular interconnector model is carried out to validate the physics of the SOFC functioning. Then the performance of a staggered-position rhombohedral interconnector is evaluated to that of a typical rectangular interconnector. To further understand the impact of flow rate on cell performance, parametric research with varied mass flow rates is conducted. The findings indicate that when compared to a conventional rectangular interconnector, the rhombohedral staggered interconnector design enhances the power density by 33.9%. With an increase in mass flow rate beyond a specified stoichiometric range, the performance decreases indicating an excessive supply of reactants. Using the proposed staggered rhombohedral interconnector configuration, the SOFC can be designed to operate optimally.