摘要
Steady-state model of a high-temperature solid oxide fuel cell （SOFC） is considered, which refers to constant chemical potentials of incoming hydrogen fuel and oxidant. Lowering of the cell voltage below its reversible value is attributed to polarizations and imperfect conversions of reactions. An imperfect power formula summarizes the effect of transport laws, irreversible polarizations and efficiency of power yield. Reversible electrochemical theory is extended to the case with dissipative chemical reactions; this case includes systems with incomplete conversions, characterized by ＂reduced affinities＂ and an idle run voltage. Efficiency drop is linked with thermodynamic and electrochemical irreversibilities expressed in terms of polarizations （activation, concentration and ohmic）. Effect of incomplete conversions is modeled by assuming that substrates can be remained after the reaction and that side reactions may occur. Optimum and feasibility conditions are discussed for basic input parameters of the cell. Calculations of maximum power show that the data differ for power generated and consumed and depend on current intensity, number of mass transfer units, polarizations, electrode surface area, average chemical rate, etc.. These data provide bounds for SOFC energy generators, which are more exact and informative than reversible bounds for electrochemical transformation.
