EIFER/ICT Lab

High Temperature Electrochemistry Lab for Fuel Cell
and Electrolysis Applications

The EIFER/ICT Lab is operated in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT) since 2005. The laboratory is mainly dedicated to long term testing of high temperature components of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) and Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells (SOEC).

Several testing procedures like power modulation and reversible operation can be programmed with scripts and run automatically 24/7 under safe conditions. Diagnostic methodologies like I-U curves and in-situ impedance spectroscopy (EIS) can be performed that allows to understand the degradation mechanisms and to predict the lifetime. Finally test protocols for operation of on-site field tests for SOFC, SOEC and rSOC of stationary systems or SOFC APU systems for mobile applications can be prepared and validated.

Activities

The activities of the EIFER/ICT Lab are covering the performance and durability characterization of High-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) and Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells (SOEC). Testing objects are from single cells, to stacks and modules that are operated in a temperature range from 700 – 900°C. Test stations installed in four laboratories are equipped with diagnostic tools for operating and evaluating prototype and commercial SOFC and SOEC test objects.

Enermat_Labor_Eifer_by Sandra Goettisheim Photographie
Test Stations for Single Cells
  • Test objects single cells:
    • with circular area (45 cm2), unsealed
    • with squared area (16 cm2), sealed at fuel side and unsealed at air side
  • Modes: SOFC, SOEC and reversible rSOC
  • Diagnostics: in-situ with impedance spectroscopy
  • Steam/CO2 co-electrolysis incl. gas chromatography
Test Stations for Short Stacks
  • Test objects: stacks with up to 10 cells (0.5 kWel SOFC mode and 1 kWel SOEC mode)
  • Modes: SOFC, SOEC and reversible rSOC
  • Diagnostics: in-situ with impedance spectroscopy
  • SOFC operation with simulated reformat gases (H2 / CO / CO2 / CH4 / H2O / N2)
Test Stations for Larger Stack / Module
  • Test objects: stacks and modules from 2.5 to 20 kWel SOEC
  • Modes: SOFC, SOEC and reversible rSOC
  • Diagnostics: in-situ with impedance spectroscopy
Examples of Current Projects
  • SynLink (BMWi, 2019 – 2021) Synthetic e-fuels as key enabler for sector linking
  • AD ASTRA (EU, JTI-FCH-JU 2019 – 2021) HArnessing Degradation mechanisms to prescribe Accelerated Stress Tests for the Realization of SOC lifetime prediction Algorithms.

Laboratories

ENERMAT Platform

FC Test
Lab

Geoscience
Lab