Development of SOFC-Micro Gas Turbine Combined Cycle System

Abstract

SOFC-gas turbine combined cycle system is able to attain extremely high efficiency over 70% (LHV). Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has been developing SOFCs since 1984. Now, MHI is integrating SOFC with a gas turbine for a combined cycle power generation system. MHI has improved the components and the control technology for the combined cycle system; this includes improvement of the cell stack, verification of pressurized operation and control of SOFC module, and the combustor for low-calorie fuel. In 2006, MHI operated a combined cycle system with a maximum power output of 75 kW, for the first time in Japan. Now, MHI is ready to manufacture a 200 kW class SOFC-MGT combined cycle system, which will be operated in 2007.

Control Strategy for a SOFC Micro Gas Turbine Hybrid Power Plant Emulator Test Rig

“…Most of the demonstrators developed thus far have operated for a limited number of hours and have not reached the maximum expected efficiency ( [2], [3], [4]). Presently, only Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd. (MHPS) has successfully tested and commissioned hybrid power plant demonstrators ( [5], [6]). However, a detailed technical understanding of the risks and impact of the SOFC operation on the micro gas turbine and vice versa is missing.…”

Numerical Simulation of Anode-Supported Disc-Type Single Cell at Anode Off-Gas Recycle

“…As for small systems, development and demonstration of cogeneration systems are undertaken, which shows 45-60% electrical efficiency (1,2). Researches and developments have been also carried out aiming at integration of SOFC to thermal power plants such as integrated coal gasification fuel cell combined cycle (3,4).…”

Durability of a Segmented-in-Series Tubular SOFC with a (Ce,Sm)O2Cathode Interlayer: Influence of Operating Conditions

“…Since several decades, considerable efforts have been made to develop SOFC systems for large-scale power plants. [5][6][7][8] After the pioneering efforts by Westinghouse to demonstrate SOFC systems up to a few hundred kW, 5 some companies such as Rolls-Royce 9,10 and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries [11][12][13] have continuous development programs to realize SOFC systems, for large-scale power generation, which have a potential to even exceed the highest electric efficiency of current advanced GTCC systems. For such SOFC systems, tubular or related cell designs have been applied.…”

“…Triple combined cycle systems using an SOFC upstream of the GTCC are attracting interest as an advanced energy conversion technology utilizing natural gas, because they can achieve an extremely high efficiency of more than 70%, calculated using the lower heating value (LHV). [11][12][13] High system efficiency is obtained by using segmented-in-series tubular SOFCs, because fuel and air can be (separately) fed to the gas turbine downstream, in which they are effectively converted to additional electricity. [11][12][13] For commercialization of the SOFC combined cycle systems, it is necessary to improve their reliability.…”

“…[11][12][13] High system efficiency is obtained by using segmented-in-series tubular SOFCs, because fuel and air can be (separately) fed to the gas turbine downstream, in which they are effectively converted to additional electricity. [11][12][13] For commercialization of the SOFC combined cycle systems, it is necessary to improve their reliability. In particular, the durability should be more than several tens of thousands of hours.…”