Nonlinear oscillatory dynamics in solid oxide fuel cells

It is widely known that electrochemical systems may exhibit oscillatory dynamics, and SOFC's have been shown to produce both current and voltage oscillations, as well as oscillations in chemical species and temperature. The relationships between the various fuel cell phenomena are complex, and a number of theoretical and experimental approaches exist for determining the existence of oscillations. In the approach used here, a dynamical system has been constructed, describing the reaction and diffusion within the anode of an SOFC fueled with methane, in order to analyse the dynamic behaviour of the chemical species. Phase plane analysis shows the occurrence of spontaneous chemical oscillations via a Hopf bifurcation. This paper implements the dynamical system model using physically controlled parameters.