The SOFC

The solid oxide fuel cell -SOFC operates with atmospheric oxygen and hydrogen. Its operating temperature is between 800 and 1000°C. The high temperature allows a partial reforming from natural gas to hydrogen within the cell. Thus the necessary effort for the generation of hydrogen is decreasing immensely.

There are two different SOFC designs: planar (shaped like a plane) and tubular (shaped like a tube). With the tubular SOFC cathode, electrolyte and anode are arranged at the inside of a ceramic pipe. The fuel gas is led through the inside of the tube and the atmospheric oxygen is led around the outside. The tubular SOFC is used for the decentralised supply of energy with a power rating of more than 100 kW.

Tubular SOFC

Planar SOFC