Numerical Assessment of SOFC Anode Polarization Based on Three-Dimensional Model Microstructure Reconstructed from FIB-SEM Images

A three-dimensional numerical simulation of the solid oxide fuel cell ͑SOFC͒ anode overpotential is conducted in a microstructure which is reconstructed by dual-beam focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy ͑FIB-SEM͒.Gaseous, ionic, and electronic transport equations are solved by a lattice Boltzmann method with electrochemical reaction at the three-phase boundary.The predicted anode overpotential agrees with the experimental data at the fuel supply of 1.2% H 2 O-98.8%H 2 , while it is larger than the data at 10% H 2 O-90% H 2 .The dependence of exchange current density on steam partial pressure, gas diffusion modeling, as well as computational domain size must be further investigated in the future.Local three-dimensional distributions of electrochemical potential and current density inside the anode microstructure are obtained.Their nonuniformities are attributed to the scattered three-phase boundaries and complex transport paths through the solid phases.