Tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

This paper reviews the design, materials and fabrication processes, and operation of tubular solid oxide fuel cells. A large number of tubular cells have been electrically tested, some to times over 30,000 hours; these cells have shown excellent performance and performance stability. In addition, successively larger size electric generators utilizing these cells have been designed, built and operated since 1984. Two 25 kW power generation field test units were fabricated and delivered for field testing during 1992; these units represent a major milestone in the commercialization of solid oxide fuel cells for power generation.