Influence of the Number of Dimensions in the Impedance Spectroscopy Simulation of a YSZ Electrolyte

Abstract

The use of computer simulation to predict the behavior of devices and materials allows for the acceleration of system operation and reduces costs, as it eliminates the need to build prototypes for testing. This work proposes the construction of 3 models with different complexities to simulate the electrical behavior of a solid electrolyte fuel cell. Experimental data were compared with simulation data. The experimental data were obtained from the production of a solid YSZ by tape casting, sintered at 1550 °C. The material was characterized using impedance spectroscopy in atmospheric air. From the experimental data, a computer simulation was conducted by using commercial code (COMSOL Multiphysics v.5.4). The construction of the model was developed to 1D, 2D axisymmetric and 3D dimensions to simulate an electrolyte to use in cylindrical planar SOFC. Nyquist Impedance graphics were plotted for the three geometries in comparison with the experimental value. No variation was observed between the curves obtained by the different geometries for the same interface. In other words, the interface complexity did not interfere in the result obtained for the same experimental data. We concluded that the 1D model is ideal to predict the influence of operational parameters because it is simpler and saves analysis time, maintaining the reliability and accuracy of the results.

Keywords

• Impedance spectroscopy
• solid oxide fuel cell
• electrolyte
• simulation model