System design and process layout for a SOFC micro-CHP unit with reduced operating temperatures

Pfeifer, Thomas; Nousch, Laura; Lieftink, Dick; Modena, Stefano

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2012.09.118

Cited by 26 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The data were obtained from a proprietary 0‐D stack model, which was calibrated with actual measurement data from CFY stack tests, series Mk351. The stack model and fitting procedure is described in more detail in . In Figure , the area of suitable conditions for steady‐state stack operation is shown over the fuel input and electrical current for a given stack temperature of 830 °C and gas‐inlet temperatures of 700 °C (air) and 800 °C (fuel), respectively.…”

Section: Hotbox Concept and Operating Windowmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The fluid enthalpy flows, heat flows and thermal losses were calculated and balanced with a 0‐D process model, which includes chemical equilibrium calculations and a calibrated SOFC stack model, and provides the missing gas compositions for the complete substance and energy balance, approximatively. Further details on the SOFC stack and process model are given in . At the process set point depicted in Figure , the POX‐reformer was operated with a stoichiometric air ratio of 0.27, and the air flow entering the reactor was pre‐heated to 526 °C.…”

Section: Proof‐of‐concept Prototype Development and Testingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Development of a SOFC Power Generator for the Indian Market

Pfeifer

Chakradeo²,

Ahire³

et al. 2017

Fuel Cells

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Contracted by the company h2e Power Systems Pvt. Ltd. based in Pune, India, Fraunhofer IKTS has developed a 1 kW(el) solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) power generator during a three year system engineering and technology transfer project. The fuel cell system is based on the CFY stack technology by Plansee SE and IKTS, which incorporates state-of-theart ESC with Scandia-doped Zirconia electrolytes. For the SOFC power generator, a chromium based interconnects (CFY) stack was integrated with a pre-reformer, a tail-gas oxidizer and heat exchangers into a HotBox-module following a novel concept for least-space-demanding reactor integration and flow distribution. The applied system concept aimed at a very compact and robust, yet highly efficient power generator with optional heat extraction. Two major design decisions have been introduced in the process layout, i.e., a rated fuel utilization in the stack of 85% as well as a POX-air pre-heater for reducing the reformer air flow to lowest possible values. This approach lead to a waterless SOFC system with a net electrical efficiency above 40%. Two proof-of-concept (PoC) prototype systems were commissioned and tested for system concept validation. Based on the operating experience, three improved prototype units were built at IKTS and shipped to India for initial demonstration projects and field trials at the customer's site. At the same time, the technology transfer to the customer was initiated, in order to enable for a local manufacturing and deployment of SOFC systems in India. This paper outlines the system development approach and major technical achievements demonstrated on PoC prototype level.

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Section: Hotbox Concept and Operating Windowmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Proof‐of‐concept Prototype Development and Testingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of a SOFC Power Generator for the Indian Market

Pfeifer

Chakradeo²,

Ahire³

et al. 2017

Fuel Cells

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“…Most SOFCs are designed to function at elevated temperatures, thereby generating higher cell efficiencies in comparison to other kinds of fuel cells when operating on hydrocarbon fuels [16]. However, many research groups are working to reduce the operating temperature of SOFCs to under 650 • C in order to reduce material degradation, prolong stack-lifetime and decrease stack material costs by enabling the use of common metallic materials [17][18][19]. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to manage the stack temperature of the SOFC in a uniform manner, particularly for planar SOFCs [20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulation and Sensitivity Analysis for Various Geometries and Optimization of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: A Review

Tonekabonimoghaddam

Shamiri²

2021

Eng

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Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are considered as one of the most promising fuel cell types for application as high efficiency power generators. This work reviews the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to maximise SOFC performance and life, and minimise cost, by considering numerous configurations and designs. A critical analysis of available literature proves that detailed research on the simulation of thermal stress and its damaging impact on the SOFC is still in its early stage of development. Numerical simulation is expected to help optimize the design, operating parameters and fuel cell materials. Therefore, sensitivity analysis of fuel cell parameters using simulation models is analysed to address the issue. Finally, the present status of the SOFC optimization efforts is summarized so that unresolved problems can be identified and solved.

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“…The market opportunity for micro cogeneration of heat and power (μCHP) application on the scale of a household or group of houses, brought several SOFC producers and system developers to start demonstrating this technology mainly in Europe [24][25][26] and in Japan [27,28]. Recent research focuses on the optimization of system design [29][30][31][32][33][34][35] and the study of μCHP integration strategies [36][37][38][39][40]. System design studies have been performed applying external reforming [29,31,33], innovative designs with low temperature SOFC's [32], with and without gas recirculation [30] and substitution of steam reforming by dry reforming [34,35].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent research focuses on the optimization of system design [29][30][31][32][33][34][35] and the study of μCHP integration strategies [36][37][38][39][40]. System design studies have been performed applying external reforming [29,31,33], innovative designs with low temperature SOFC's [32], with and without gas recirculation [30] and substitution of steam reforming by dry reforming [34,35]. The integration strategy studies focus mainly on the economical valorization of heat and power depending on the specific geographical application conditions [36], on the type of building [37,38] and on the network integration strategy [39].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of the solid oxide fuel cell system for micro CHP using natural gas with a system using a mixture of natural gas and hydrogen

2019

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Solid oxide fuel cell systems for combined heat and power production (SOFC μCHP) fuelled by natural gas are attractive because of their high electrical and total efficiency even at small scale. The development of a hydrogen economy will increase the availability of distributed hydrogen as a pure gas. Alternatively, hydrogen may be blended with natural gas in the grid. This study investigates the performance of SOFC μCHP systems, while using a fuel varying from pure hydrogen to pure methane via mixtures of hydrogen and methane called Hythane. Flowsheet models of external as well as internal reforming fuel cell systems were developed in Cycle-Tempo simulation software. Results show that both the external as well as the internal reforming system can operated on all fuel gas compositions varying from pure hydrogen to pure methane, thus allowing for a transition towards a hydrogen economy via the mixing of hydrogen into the natural gas grid. Although the natural gas based systems have a higher electrical efficiency, the introduction of hydrogen into the gas leads to a higher total efficiency of the combined heat and power system. The addition of hydrogen into the fuel minimizes the problems of thermal stress and thermal shock associated with the use of methane in internal reforming fuel cell systems. The internal reforming system showed a higher performance compared to the external reforming system for all Hythane gas mixtures in terms of not only electrical efficiency but also in terms of thermal and total efficiency.

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System design and process layout for a SOFC micro-CHP unit with reduced operating temperatures

Cited by 26 publications

References 25 publications

Development of a SOFC Power Generator for the Indian Market

Development of a SOFC Power Generator for the Indian Market

Simulation and Sensitivity Analysis for Various Geometries and Optimization of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: A Review

Comparison of the solid oxide fuel cell system for micro CHP using natural gas with a system using a mixture of natural gas and hydrogen

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