High Temperature Vertical Tube Furnace for Small Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Testing with Four Channel Gas Control

Product Overview

This vertical tube furnace system represents a specialized advancement in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) research, providing an integrated platform designed for the rapid development and cost-effective testing of next-generation fuel cell materials. By combining a split-able vertical heating unit with a dedicated gas delivery and temperature control station, this equipment allows researchers to simulate real-world operating conditions for small-scale solid oxide fuel cells. The system is engineered to accommodate cells with a 20 mm diameter, enabling high-fidelity testing without the material overhead of larger-format prototypes, thus accelerating the iterative process of material discovery in the hydrogen and renewable energy sectors.

The primary use cases for this system center on material science laboratories and industrial R&D facilities focusing on electrochemical energy conversion. It is specifically optimized for evaluating the performance of cathode and anode materials, as well as electrolyte integrity under high temperatures up to 1000°C. By utilizing a vertical orientation, the equipment facilitates the application of controlled pressure to the fuel cell fixture, ensuring optimal contact and sealing between the electrodes and the dual-layer gas delivery tubes. This design is critical for maintaining the purity of the chemical environment, which is essential for studying catalytic activity and degradation mechanisms in harsh thermal environments.

Built for demanding industrial research, the system offers exceptional reliability through its dual-zone heating configuration and independent temperature management. The split furnace design permits easy access to the internal reactor tube, reducing downtime between experiments and allowing for precise alignment of the fuel cell fixture. Mounted on a mobile, integrated cart, the entire setup combines the furnace, gas delivery, and sophisticated touchscreen controls into a single, cohesive workspace. This robust engineering ensures consistent, repeatable thermal cycles, providing the operational stability required for long-term durability testing and precise electrochemical characterization.

Key Features

• Split-able Dual-Zone Heating Architecture: The furnace features a vertical split design that allows for easy sample loading and fixture alignment. Two independent heating zones provide a total length of 200 mm, enabling the creation of precise thermal gradients or a stable constant temperature zone of 65 mm with ±1°C accuracy.
• Integrated 4-Channel Mass Flow Control (MFC): The system is equipped with four independent gas channels, allowing for the precise mixing and delivery of process gases. Two channels are rated for 100 SCCM and two for 200 SCCM, offering an accuracy of ±1.5% F.S. to ensure exact atmospheric conditions during fuel cell operation.
• Precision Touchscreen Control Station: All system parameters, including temperature profiles and gas flow rates, are managed through a centralized touchscreen interface. This separate mobile cart design protects sensitive electronics from heat while providing a user-friendly environment for 30-segment programmable temperature control.
• Dual-Layer Tube Technology: The system utilizes a sophisticated dual-layer structure consisting of alumina outside tubes (20 mm OD) and quartz inner tubes (14 mm OD). This configuration ensures high-temperature resistance and chemical inertness, preventing contamination of the fuel cell components during high-stakes experiments.
• Secure Fuel Cell Fixture Support: The furnace frame is designed to support the internal tube sets and apply consistent pressure to the fuel cell specimen. This mechanical arrangement ensures a high-integrity seal, which is critical for experimental accuracy when testing with flammable or reactive gas species.
• Rapid Thermal Cycling Capabilities: With a maximum heating rate of 20 °C/min, the unit can reach operating temperatures quickly, significantly reducing the duration of experimental cycles and increasing overall laboratory productivity.
• High-Temperature Material Compatibility: The unit supports continuous operation at 1000°C and can reach a maximum temperature of 1200°C for short durations, providing the thermal flexibility required for various fuel cell material formulations and electrolyte sintering processes.
• Integrated Safety and Compliance: The entire system is CE certified, reflecting a commitment to international safety standards. The control system includes warnings for flammable gas usage, and provisions for additional safety components like automatic burners and leak detectors are seamlessly supported.

Applications

Technical Specifications

Why Choose TU-C27

• Engineered for Precision R&D: This system is purpose-built for the nuances of SOFC testing, providing the exact thermal and atmospheric controls required for high-accuracy electrochemical research.
• Integrated Mobile Efficiency: Unlike fragmented setups, the TU-C27 combines the furnace and gas delivery into a single mobile station, optimizing laboratory space and simplifying experimental workflow.
• Reliable Dual-Layer Protection: The use of nested alumina and quartz tubes ensures both mechanical strength and chemical purity, protecting your fuel cell samples from impurities even at 1000°C.
• Scalable Research Solutions: Our design allows for the addition of secondary furnaces on the same frame, providing a modular path to increased throughput as your research requirements grow.
• Proven Industrial Quality: With CE certification and a robust mobile framework, this unit is built to withstand the rigors of continuous industrial heating and complex gas delivery schedules.

Contact our technical sales team today for a comprehensive quote or to discuss a custom configuration tailored to your specific material science research requirements.