An electrolyte model for ceramic oxygen generator and solid oxide fuel cell

A mathematical model describing the distribution of the concentrations of electrons and electron holes and the potential along the thickness of electrolyte is developed. This model facilitates the study of various electrolyte materials and the effects of operating temperature, oxygen partial pressure and electrolyte thickness on oxygen semi-permeability. The model is applied to a study of the performance of a ceramic oxygen generators (CoGs) and a solid oxide fuel cells (SoFCs). In a CoG, CO + CO₂|electroloyte|pure O₂ and N2 + O₂|electroloyte|pure O₂ are considered for a system which requires low O₂ and high O₂ semi-permeability, respectively. In a SoFC, for doped-ZrO₂ at 800 °C, the thinner the electrolyte, the higher the energy efficiency and the output power density will be at intermediate current density due to the higher Ohmic loss of the electrolyte. Thus, obtaining low O₂ semi-permeability for a thin electrolyte is also desirable in SoFC development.