A two-dimensional model of nickel/yttria-stabilized zirconia (Ni/YSZ) solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), was developed for a button cell system. The model integrates the detailed catalytic, electrochemical elementary reactions with ionic/electronic conduction and multiple gas transport processes in SOFC. The model is validated using published experimental data for H-2-H2O fuel gas under different cell sizes and operating conditions. The distributions of gas/surface phase species concentration and current density were predicted and the effects of operating temperature, fuel gas composition and fuel channel tube design on the cell performance were studied. The results show that the electrochemical reaction processes occurs mainly within a 20 mu m distance from the anode/electrolyte interface and that the Ni catalyst surface is covered mainly by H(s). For the chamber channel design, the calculations show that the tube chamber should have a diameter no smaller than the cathode electrode to obtain the best SOFC performance. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.