Numerical simulation study and optimization of operating conditions of a solid oxide electrolytic cell under the synergistic variation of electrical and thermal energy

Abstract The production of hydrogen using electrical energy and thermal energy generated from renewable energy in combination with solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) is one of the most important ways to reduce the cost of hydrogen production. However, fluctuations can lead to damage to SOEC. Therefore, this study develops a dynamic SOEC model to systematically analyze the transient behavior of solid oxide electrolysis cells under various operating conditions. the synergistic variation of electrical energy and thermal energy. This study finds that the synergistic variation of electrical and thermal energy does not significantly reduce the safety of SOEC compared to electrical or thermal energy inputs. In addition, this study optimizes the operating conditions of the SOEC. Comparative analysis reveals an 83.5% reduction in maximum temperature gradient for co-flow operation relative to counter-flow configuration, and the co-flow mode reaches the steady state more rapidly.