Enhancement of energy generation efficiency in industrial facilities by SOFC – SOEC systems with additional hydrogen production

Abstract

Industry is one of the highest energy consumption sector: some facilities like steelworks, foundries, or paper mills are highly energy-intensive activities. Many countries have already implemented subsidies on energy efficiency in generation and utilisation, with the aim of decreasing overall consumption and energy intensity of gross domestic product. Meanwhile, researchers have increased interest into alternative energy systems to decrease pollution and use of fossil fuels. Hydrogen, in particular, is proposed as a clean alternative energy vector, as it can be used as energy storage mean or to replace fossil fuels, e.g. for transport. This work analyses the revamping of the energy generation system of a paper mill by means of reversible solid oxide cells (RSOCs). The aim is not only to increase efficiency on energy generation, but also to create a polygeneration system where hydrogen is produced. Application on a real industrial facility, based in Italy with a production capacity of 60000 t/y of paper, is analysed. First, the current energy system is studied. Then, a novel system based on RSOC is proposed. Each component of the systems (both existing and novel) is defined using operational data, technical datasheet, or models defined with thermodynamic tools. Then, the interaction between them is studied. Primary energy analysis on the novel system is performed, and saving with respect to the current configuration is evaluated. Even if the complexity of the system increases, results show that saving occurs between 2 and 6 %. Hydrogen generation is assessed, comparing the RSOC integrated system with proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis, in terms of both primary energy and economics. Results exhibit significant primary energy and good economic performance on hydrogen production with the novel system proposed (hydrogen cost decreases from 10 €/kg to at least 8 €/kg).

An innovative hybrid system for the polygeneration of power, heat, and liquid carbon dioxide using solid oxide fuel cell/electrolyzer technology and oxyfuel power generation cycle

“…The S‐CO 2 /T‐CO 2 system is capable of chilling the refrigerated truck examined adequately. Vialetto et al 28 demonstrated the increased power generation performance in industrial installations using SOFC/solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) combinations along with extra hydrogen generation. The study analyzed the re‐engineering of a paper mill's energy production system.…”

Overall Optimization and Sustainable Development of Resources/Energy/Environment under Polygeneration Energy System

“…Even with the increased complexity of the system, results show savings of 2% to 6%. Hydrogen production was evaluated comparing the RSOC integrated system with proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis in terms of primary energy and economics [3]. Ferronato N analyzes the main strengths and weaknesses of implementing a sustainable MSWM.…”

Degradation studies using machine learning on novel solid oxide cell database

“…Solid oxide cells (SOCs) are being employed in a wide range of applications such as power generation, Power-to-X, and so forth [1][2][3][4][5][6]. These large-scale applications require long operational lifetimes, in the range of several 10 000 h. Lab and pilot-scale tests in these time scales have been carried out in the past [7][8][9].…”