Design and Thermodynamic Analysis of an SOFC System for Naval Surface Ship Application

Abstract

Diesel-fueled fuel cell systems can be more clean and efficient energy solutions than internal combustion engines for electric power generation on-board naval surface ships. NATO Navy steam and gas turbine and diesel ships are powered by a naval distillate fuel (NATO symbol F-76). In this study, a 120 kW F-76 diesel-fueled solid oxide fuel cell system (SOFC) as an auxiliary engine on-board a naval surface ship was designed and thermodynamically analyzed. A diesel-fueled SOFC system was compared to diesel-electric generator set in a case naval surface ship.

The role of solid oxide fuel cells in future ship energy systems

“…This confirms the results of previous studies, where the use of SOFCs was associated to significant energy savings (e.g. 50% savings in [24]). The side-effect of dramatically reducing emissions of other pollutants, such as NO X and CO, also contributes to the environmental advantages of a wider adoption of fuel cells in shipping.…”

“…Many of the cases cited in literature refer to the use of SOFCs in combination with an external reformer fuelled with Diesel, something which would make the system easy to adapt to current ship energy systems. These systems can achieve up to 55% [75,24] electrical efficiency, with the additional potential for providing high-temperature heat, resulting in a net fuel consumption reduction of close to 50%. These types of systems were also tested in experimental conditions (as opposed to modelling studies), with promising results [59].…”

Design and simulation of LNG-fueled SOFC-GT Hybrid System for ship application

“…Although the SOFC-GT powered electric ship has been investigated by several researches [4], most of which ignores the influence of operation condition on the system performance in the design process. Therefore, this paper proposed an approach for designing a LNG fueled SOFC-GT hybrid system for ship application based on the built models of SOFC-GT, ship resistance and propeller load.…”