讲座主题

As the global energy landscape pivots toward carbon neutrality, High-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) have emerged as a cornerstone technology, offering net electrical efficiencies of up to 65% and overall efficiencies reaching 90% in combined heat and power configurations. However, achieving long-term durability and peak performance remains a challenge due to the extreme thermo-mechanical stresses and the inherent complexity of monitoring internal states in harsh environments. Furthermore, the transition toward a hydrogen economy introduces fluctuating fuel qualities, such as H2/NG blends, that require precise, real-time control of fuel utilisation and oxygen-to-carbon ratios to prevent degradation like coking or fuel depletion.

This seminar presents a comprehensive evolution of monitoring technologies, spanning over two decades of research into bridging experimental excellence with computational precision. We explore a multi-scale diagnostic framework: from the monitoring of cell’s thermal behaviour to the deployment of patented hardware sensors and the latest advancements in AI-driven Soft-sensor diagnostics.

Part 1: In-situ Thermal Mapping (THERMONO沪ICP备16029818号-3): Conventional thermocouples often fail to capture internal temperature gradients. We present the MCTA sensor technology, which utilizes thin-film sputter deposition to provide high-resolution, real-time thermal data directly from the electrode surfaces during operation.

Part 2: Amperometric Hydrogen Purity Analysis: We introduce a novel sensing methodology that uses current output to quantify hydrogen concentration in H2/NG mixtures without interference from hydrocarbons, providing an economical and robust alternative to expensive chromatography.

Part 3: Soft-Sensor Based System Operation: To complement physical sensors, we explore the integration of Soft-sensors within SOFC systems. This approach combines physics-based energy balances with data-based Gaussian Process (GP)regression models.