The Idaho National Laboratory is actively researching the use of solid oxide fuel cells as electrolyzers to produce hydrogen and syngas on a large scale. They have conducted single cell tests, multi-cell stack tests, and multi-stack tests using cells from Ceramatec Inc. and NASA Glenn Research Center. Stack testing included 10 cell and 20 cell stacks up to a 720 cell 15 kW stack. Tests were run for hundreds of hours to over 1000 hours in a bench-scale or new 15 kW integrated laboratory test facility. Results and observations of cell performance degradation will be presented.

1. High Temperature Electrolysis Experimental Activities At The Idaho
National Laboratory
Carl M. Stoots, James E. O’Brien, J. Stephen Herring
Idaho National Laboratory
P.O. Box 1625, MS 3870
Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415 USA
Tel: 001-208-526-4527
Email: carl.stoots@inl.gov
Joseph J. Hartvigsen
Ceramatec Inc.
2425 South 900 West
Salt Lake City, Utah 84119 USA
Tel: 001-801-978-2163
Email: jjh@ceramatec.com
Abstract: The Idaho National Laboratory (Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA) is actively
researching the application of solid oxide fuel cell technology as electrolyzers for large
scale hydrogen and syngas production. Single button cell tests, multi-cell stack, as well
as multi-stack testing have been conducted. Button cells from both Ceramatec Inc. (Salt
Lake City, UT) as well as from the NASA Glenn Research Center have been tested.
Stack testing has concentrated on 10 x 10 cm cells and 20 x 20 cm cells supplied by
Ceramatec and ranged from 10 cell short stacks to a 720 cell 15 kW test. Tests were
conducted either in a bench-scale test apparatus or in a newly developed Integrated
Laboratory Scale (ILS) 15 kW test facility. Tests ranged in duration from 100’s of
hours to 1000 hours or more. A description of the Idaho National Laboratory testing
facilities and experimental program will be presented, as well as a summary of test
results and some observations of cell performance degradation.