Modeling of mass and energy transfers in a high temperature membrane electrolyser

In this work we report the modeling and simulation of a Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) membrane reactor for hydrogen production. The reactor was composed of two compartments separated by a dense perovskite membrane and cermet electrodes. The model which includes mass and heat transfers and electrochemical reaction rate was validated with experimental results obtained from the literature. The simulation allowed studying the influence of the structural parameters of the electrode (grain radii, volume and conductivity ratios of the metallic and ceramic phases) on the electrochemical reaction rate through the thickness of the anodic cermet. The simulation of heat transfers permitted to obtain the temperature profile through the different membrane reactor compartments which depends mainly on the gas hydrodynamics inside the anodic compartment.