3D Printing and Prototyping Manifolds for Microtubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (mSOFCs)

A significant issue for the microtubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (mSOFC) is the complex inlet manifold for the fuel entry. Hundreds or even thousands of gas connections must be made to the tubes, with equal fuel flow required in each tubular anode compartment. This paper shows how rapid prototyping of fuel inlet manifolds may be used to create test manifolds and to optimise the fuel pathways economically. As tube diameter is reduced in future, it is expected that this 3D printing process will become even more relevant to mSOFC development.