Application of a detailed dimensional solid oxide fuel cell model in integrated gasification fuel cell system design and analysis

Abstract

a b s t r a c tIntegrated gasification fuel cell (IGFC) systems that combine coal gasification and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are promising for highly efficient and environmentally sensitive utilization of coal for power production. Most IGFC system analysis efforts performed to-date have employed non-dimensional SOFC models, which predict SOFC performance based upon global mass and energy balances that do not resolve important intrinsic constraints of SOFC operation, such as the limits of internal temperatures and species concentrations. In this work, a detailed dimensional planar SOFC model is applied in IGFC system analysis to investigate these constraints and their implications and effects on the system performance. The analysis results further confirm the need for employing a dimensional SOFC model in IGFC system design. To maintain the SOFC internal temperature within a safe operating range, the required cooling air flow rate is much larger than that predicted by the non-dimensional SOFC model, which results in a larger air compressor design and operating power that significantly reduces the system efficiency. Options to mitigate the challenges introduced by considering the intrinsic constraints of SOFC operation in the analyses and improve IGFC design and operation have also been investigated. Novel design concepts that include staged SOFC stacks and cascading air flow can achieve a system efficiency that is close to that of the baseline analyses, which did not consider the intrinsic SOFC limitations.

Hybrid fuel cell gas turbine (FC/GT) combined cycle systems

“…Example cycle conceptualization and detailed thermodynamic analyses applied to coal-fi red FC/GT systems has been accomplished by Li et al . ( 2010Li et al . ( , 2011aLi et al .…”

“…( , 2011aLi et al . ( , 2011b and Li ( 2010 ). Table 9.2 presents representative results from detailed cycle conceptualization and thermodynamic analyses after Li ( 2010 ).…”

Predicting the ultimate potential of natural gas SOFC power cycles with CO2 capture – Part B: Applications

“…This specific operating condition may require dedicated flow field configurations and distribution patterns in order for the cell voltage to comply with the lower local Nernst potential induced by the intense reactant consumption, as discussed in literature for the case of coal based cycles [43]. Therefore a sensitivity analysis on the air utilisation factor has been carried out in order to evaluate its effects on the overall plant performance.…”

Design of biomass and natural gas based IGFC using multi-objective optimization

“…They have presented cycles such as fuel cell (FC) topping, fuel cell bottoming, direct and indirect cycles. A detailed two dimensional planar SOFC system integrated with a gasification unit was studied and it was shown that the detailed model allows prediction of temperature changes at various points across the SOFC [34]. This allows for the safe operation of the hybrid system.…”