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The University of Genoa (TPG) has designed and developed an innovative test rig for high temperature fuel cell hybrid system physical emulation. It is based on the coupling of a modified commercial 100 kW recuperated micro gas turbine to a special modular volume designed for the experimental analysis of the interaction between different dimension fuel cell stacks and turbomachines. This new experimental approach that generates reliable results as a complete test rig also allows investigation of high risk situations with more flexibility without serious and expensive consequences to the equipment and at a very low cost compared with real hybrid configurations. The rig, developed with the support of the European Integrated Project “FELICITAS,” is under exploitation and improvement in the framework of the new European Integrated Project “LARGE-SOFC” started in January 2007. The layout of the system (connecting pipes, valves, and instrumentation) was carefully designed to minimize the pressure loss between compressor outlet and turbine inlet to have the highest plant flexibility. Furthermore, the servocontrolled valves are useful for performing tests at different operative conditions (i.e., pressures, temperatures, and pressure losses), focusing the attention on surge and thermal stress prevention. This work shows the preliminary data obtained with the machine connected to the volume for the test rig safe management to avoid surge or excessive stress, especially during the critical operative phases (i.e., start-up and shutdown). Finally, the attention is focused on the valve control system developed to emulate the start-up and shutdown phases for high temperature fuel cell hybrid systems. It is necessary to manage the flows in the connecting pipes, including an apt recuperator bypass, to perform a gradual heating up and cooling down as requested during these phases. It is an essential requirement to avoid thermal stress for the fuel cell stack. For this reason, during the start-up, the volume is gradually heated by the compressor outlet flow followed by a well managed recuperator outlet flow and vice versa for the shutdown. Furthermore, operating with a constant rotational speed control system, the machine load is used to reach higher temperature values typical of these kinds of systems

The aim of this work is to investigate the performance of Internal Reforming Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (IRSOFC) and Gas Turbine (GT) combined cycles.To study complex systems involving IRSOFC a mathematical model has been developed that simulates the fuel cell steady-state operation. The model, tested with data available in literature, has been used for a complete IRSOFC parametric analysis taking into account the influence of cell operative pressure, cell and stream temperatures, fuel-oxidant flow rates and composition, etc.The analysis of IRSOFC-GT combined cycles has been carried out by using the ThermoEconomic Modular Program TEMP (Agazzani and Massardo, 1997). The code has been modified to allow IRSOFC, external reformer and flue gas condenser performance to be taken into account. Using as test case the IRSOFC-GT combined plant proposed by Harvey and Richter (1994) the capability of the modified TEMP code has been demonstrated.The thermodynamic analysis of a number of IRSOFC-GT combined cycles is presented and discussed, taking into account the influence of several technological constraints. The results are presented for both atmospheric and pressurised IRSOFC.

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The aim of this work is to investigate the performance of internal reforming solid oxide fuel cell (IRSOFC) and gas turbine (GT) combined cycles. To study complex systems involving IRSOFC a mathematical model has been developed that simulates the fuel cell steady-state operation. The model, tested with data available in literature, has been used for a complete IRSOFC parametric analysis taking into account the influence of cell operative pressure, cell and stream temperatures, fuel-oxidant flow rates and composition, etc. The analysis of IRSOFC-GT combined cycles has been carried out by using the ThermoEconomic Modular Program TEMP (Agazzani and Massardo, 1997). The code has been modified to allow IRSOFC, external reformer and flue gas condenser performance to be taken into account. Using as test case the IRSOFC-GT combined plant proposed by Harvey and Richter (1994) the capability of the modified TEMP code has been demonstrated. The thermodynamic analysis of a number of IRSOFC-GT combined cycles is presented and discussed, taking into account the influence of several technological constraints. The results are presented for both atmospheric and pressurized IRSOFC. [S0742-4795(00)00501-9]

This work is based on the hybrid system emulator plant developed by the Thermochemical Power Group (TPG) of the University of Genoa. This rig is composed of a 100 kW microturbine coupled with high temperature fuel cell emulation devices. A real-time model is used for components not physically present in the laboratory (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC), reformer, anodic circuit, off-gas burner, cathode blower). It is necessary to evaluate thermodynamic and electrochemical performance related to SOFC systems. Using an User Datagram Protocol (UDP) based connection with the control/acquisition software, it generates a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) facility for hybrid system emulation. Temperature, pressure, and mass flow rate at the recuperator outlet and machine rotational speed are measured in the plant and used as inputs for the model. The turbine outlet temperature (TOT) calculated by the model is fed into the machine control system and the turbine electric load is changed to match the model TOT values (effective plant/model coupling to avoid modifications on microturbine controller).\ud Different tests were carried out to analyse hybrid system technology through the interaction between an experimental plant and a real-time model. Double step and double ramp tests of current and fuel provided the system dynamic response

The Thermochemical Power Group (TPG) of the University of Genoa designed and installed a complete hybrid system emulator test rig equipped with a 100 kW recuperated micro gas turbine, a modular cathodic vessel located between recuperator outlet and combustor inlet, and an anodic recirculation system based on the coupling of a single stage ejector with an anodic vessel. The layout of the system was carefully designed, considering the coupling between a planar SOFC stack and the 100 kW commercial machine installed at TPG laboratory. A particular pressurized hybrid system was studied to define the anodic side properties in terms of mass flow rates, pressures, and temperatures. In this work, this experimental facility is used to analyze the anodic ejector performance from fluid dynamic and thermal points of view. The attention is mainly focused on the recirculation factor value in steady-state conditions. For this reason, a wide experimental campaign was carried out to measure the behavior of this property in different operative conditions with the objective to avoid carbon deposition in the anodic circuit, in the reformer, and in the fuel cell stack