Performance analysis and design of solid oxide cells system for the lunar base

To meet the unique power demands derived by the lunar day-night cycle, this paper presents, for the first time, a continuous energy system integrating solar panels, turbines, and reversible solid oxide cells (solar panel-turbine-reversible solid oxide cell, PTRSOC) to achieve continuous day-night energy supply. Subsequently, the impact of key operational parameters, including lower operating temperature and higher pressure, on the system power output and energy conversion efficiency is further analyzed. Ultimately, an energy system capable of generating up to 1 MW of power at night is developed, overcoming the technical bottleneck of intermittent renewable power supply in lunar environments. Key findings include: a 61 % increase in power output of the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) subsystem when the storage tank pressure is increased, with the system efficiency reaching 60 %. Additionally, an 8 % efficiency improvement in the solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) subsystem is achieved by increasing its inlet temperature. For the 1 MW PTRSOC system, the SOEC electrolysis efficiency can reach up to 98 %, with the overall efficiency achieving 88 %. Compared to photovoltaic systems, the SOFC subsystem exhibits a 53 % efficiency, which is 30 % higher than that of conventional solar power generation technologies. Furthermore, under the premise of identical electricity generation capacity, the compactness of the SOFC system is at least 60 times that of the solar system. Notably, the SOFC subsystem enables nighttime operation, thereby ensuring continuous power supply—a capability unattainable with solar-based technologies—then supporting future crewed lunar exploration missions.