Stack development

The development of stacks concentrates on several areas, some of which are:

Temperature cycles

To achieve long term operation, the stack must tolerate repeated cooling and heating, and therefore Topsoe Fuel Cell conducts extensive research in stack resistance towards temperature cycles.

Load cycles

Topsoe Fuel Cell has developed a mechanical stack design which tolerates very large temperature gradients, allowing the stack to switch between standby operation (open circuit voltage) and full operation within a few seconds.

Fuel utilization

Increased fuel utilisation is necessary for high electrical efficiency. Topsoe Fuel Cell has demonstrated fuel utilization over 90% by adjusting pressure drop in the stack and ensuring high quality sealings.

Pressure drop

As pressure drop decreases, the electrical efficiency of the system increases. Topsoe Fuel Cell is testing new stack designs with reduced pressure drop.

Compression force

Mechanical compression maintains the mechanical integrity of the SOFC stack, and reduction of the required compression force ensures easier handling of the stack.