Impact of Anode‐Supported Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Flow Field Design on Fuel Transport: A Review

ABSTRACT

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology has progressed from research‐scale single cells to commercial high‐power systems, although challenges such as capital cost and durability remain. Numerical simulation plays a vital role in addressing these issues by enabling rapid optimization, reducing experimental cost and time, and providing predictive insights for scaling up. This review examines recent developments in SOFC simulation on flow field design and stack configurations. Past simulation‐based studies on the flow field and stack design are analyzed to identify the flow geometries that affect the cell performance and the key criteria that affect the stack design. Numerical analysis addressing major SOFC challenges in upscaling the SOFC from single to stack design primarily focuses on the flow geometry and manifold design for performance enhancement. Moreover, replacing hydrogen with hydrocarbons affects flow field design. This study further investigates the effects of channel geometry and manifold design on mass transport and electrochemical performance. The current limitations in model validation and scaling from button‐cell data to planar cell and stack‐level simulations are also highlighted.