A ceramic fuel cell in an all solid-state energy conversion device that produces electricity by electrochemically combining fuel and oxidant gases across an ionic conducting oxide. Current ceramic fuel cells use an oxygen-ion conductor or a proton conductor as the electrolyte and operate at high temperatures (>600°C). Ceramic fuel cells, commonly referred to as solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), are presently under development for a variety of power generation applications. This paper reviews the science and technology of ceramic fuel cells and discusses the critical issues posed by the development of this type of fuel cell. The emphasis is given to the discussion of component materials (especially, ZrO2 electrolyte, nickel/ZrO2 cermet anode, LaMnO3 cathode, and LaCrO3 interconnect), gas reactions at the electrodes, stack designs, and processing techniques used in the fabrication of required ceramic structures.

Ceramic Fuel Cells

Materials Challenges in Nuclear Energy

Despite being first demonstrated over 160 years ago, and offering significant environmental benefits and high electrical efficiency, it is only in the last two decades that fuel cells have offered a realistic prospect of being commercially viable. The solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) offers great promise and is presently the subject of intense research activity. Unlike other fuel cells the SOFC is a solid-state device which operates at elevated temperatures. This review discusses the particular issues facing the development of a high temperature solid-state fuel cell and the inorganic materials currently used and under investigation for such cells, together with the problems associated with operating SOFCs on practical hydrocarbon fuels.

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Solid oxide fuel cells

Progress in material selection for solid oxide fuel cell technology: A review

Present review is aimed at providing a state-of-art development of anode for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) with principal emphasis on the materials aspect. The criteria for the anode of SOFC are first presented. The prospects and problems of the currently developed anode materials are elucidated. In particular, the electrochemical properties of the Ni/YSZ cermet anode that is the most commonly employed in the establishment of SOFC stack is described along with various approaches attempted for their improvements. The advantages and disadvantages of other anode materials are compared to offer some insights for the research and development of new generation of anode materials for SOFC.

A review on the status of anode materials for solid oxide fuel cells

A water cooled solid-breeder blanket concept was developed for ITER. The main function of this blanket is to produce the necessary tritium for the ITER operation. Several design features are incorporated in this blanket concept to increase its attractiveness. The main features are the following: (a) a multilayer concept which reduces fabrication cost; (b) a simple blanket configuration which results in reliability advantages; (c) a very small breeder volume is employed to reduce the tritium inventory and the blanket cost; (d) a high tritium breeding ratio eliminates the need for an outside tritium supply; (e) a low-pressure system decreases the required steel fraction for structural purposes; (f) a low-temperature operation reduces the swelling concerns for beryllium; and (g) the small fractions of structure and breeder materials used in the blanket reduce the decay heat source. The key features and design analyses of this blanket are summarized in this paper.

Water-Cooled Solid-Breeder Blanket Concept for ITER

/pdf/analysis-and-design-of-high-power-density-self-cooled-m4bi7o19v8.pdf

Analysis and design of high power density self-cooled lithium and vanadium blanket.

Bree diagrams are developed for shakedown and ratcheting analyses ofa typical fusion reactor first wall subjected to cyclic thermal and steady primary stresses. The stresses are assumed to be predominantly of the bending type. The first loading/unloading cycle is analyzed analytically as well as numerically using elastic-plastic beam bending theory. The general problem of elastic shakedown is solved using the shakedown theorem of perfect plasticity. The problem of plastic strain cycling with and without ratcheting is solved using numerical analysis.

Shakedown and Ratcheting Analyses of Fusion Reactor First Wall

Leak behavior of steam generator tube-to-tubesheet joints under creep condition: Experimental study

The thermomechanical contact between beryllium cubes and Type 316 stainless steel was analyzed for various values of applied pressure normal to the interface. If the authors neglect the influence of gap on the interface resistance, finite element analyses show that a simple one-dimensional analysis can lead to serious underestimation of the maximum temperature of the beryllium. A two-dimensional analysis underpredicts the maximum gap created at the interface, compared with a full three-dimensional analysis. Thus, it also significantly underpredicts the maximum temperature of the beryllium. 8 refs., 15 figs.

Saurin Majumdar

Papers

Water-Cooled Solid-Breeder Blanket Concept for ITER

Analysis and design of high power density self-cooled lithium and vanadium blanket.

Shakedown and Ratcheting Analyses of Fusion Reactor First Wall

Leak behavior of steam generator tube-to-tubesheet joints under creep condition: Experimental study

Analysis of the Thermomechanical Contact Between Beryllium Blocks and Stainless Steel Plates in ITER Design