Segmented electrode analysis of an anode-supported planar solid oxide fuel cell for the diagnosis of marine power applications

In planar solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), the fuel/oxidant distributions cause current and temperature distributions over the electrodes, giving chemical and thermo-mechanical cell degradations as well as decays in the total cell performance and efficiency. We focus on the development of real-time abnormaldiagnosis method to improve the reliability and durability required for the long-term safety and stable operation of the marine SOFC. We therefore address in-situ measurements of in-plane spatial current and impedance distributions along the flow channels of an anode-supported planar SOFC by segmented cathodes opposing to up, mid, and downstream parts of the anode.