This paper reports about a feasibility study on the manufacturing and testing of laboratory-scale high temperature fuel cell stacks, namely IT-SOFC. The manufacturing procedure of planar anode-supported cells and the test facility were set up and successfully run. The work encompassed the set up of requirements, the design, the construction, the validation and the testing of a small ITSOFC stack within the newly developed test station. Overall, results were in-lined with requirements, the test facility worked out well and the fuel cell stacks showed acceptable performance. Improvements are possible in the stack design and assembly, especially if larger size stacks are to be developed: the chosen design proved to be effective and practical for testing of the prototype; sealing deposition proved to work out properly. Fuel cell stack performance can be improved further by alternative designs and materials: this work focused on the first step, i.e. the feasibility of technology and the demonstration of the fully automated test station. Now, repeatability of measurements and safety of procedures have been achieved, and they constitute a valuable basis for further technology development and testing.
