Modeling of SOFC with indirect internal reforming operation: Comparison of conventional packed-bed and catalytic coated-wall internal reformer

In the present work, mathematical models of indirect internal reforming solid oxide fuel cells (IIR-SOFC) fueled by methane were developed to analyze the thermal coupling of an internal endothermic reforming with exothermic electrochemical reactions and determine the system performance. The models are based on steady-state, heterogeneous, two-dimensional reformer and annular design SOFC models. Two types of internal reformer i.e. conventional packed-bed and catalytic coated-wall reformers were considered here. The simulations indicated that IIR-SOFC with packed-bed internal reformer leads to the rapid methane consumption and undesirable local cooling at the entrance of internal reformer due to the mismatch between thermal load associated with rapid reforming rate and local amount of heat available from electrochemical reactions. The simulation then revealed that IIR-SOFC with coated-wall internal reformer provides smoother methane conversion with significant lower local cooling at the entrance of internal reformer.     

Design of compact methanol reformer for hydrogen with low CO for the fuel cell power generation

The effect of the heat transfer area and the thermal conductivity of the reactor materials are evaluated with three identical structured reactors having multiple columned-catalyst bed and using three different reactor materials, aluminum alloy, brass and stainless steel. A series of compact methanol reformers are then designed and fabricated with the use of large reactor surface area in catalyst beds and high heat transfer constant to produce hydrogen fuel with 2–4 ppm of CO for the fuel cell (FC) power generation. The same design principle is successfully used for easy scale up of the reactor capacity from 250 L/h to 10,000 L/h. This low CO hydrogen (68–70%) used as the fuel for the fuel cell power generation provides a very competitive cost of hydrogen and electric power, $0.20–0.23/m³ of H₂ and $0.196/KWh, respectively.     

Fabrication and testing of coplanar single-chamber micro solid oxide fuel cells with geometrically complex electrodes

Coplanar single-chamber micro solid oxide fuel cells (SC-μSOFCs) with curvilinear microelectrode configurations of arbitrarily complex two-dimensional geometry were fabricated by a direct-write microfabrication technique using conventional fuel cell materials. The electrochemical performance of two SC-μSOFCs with different electrode shapes, but comparable electrode and inter-electrode dimensions, was characterized in a methane–air mixture at 700 °C. Both cells exhibited stable open circuit voltage and peak power density of 0.9 V and 2.3 mW cm⁻², respectively, indicating that electrode shape did not have a significant influence on the performance of these fuel cells.     

Two-dimensional dynamic simulation of a direct internal reforming solid oxide fuel cell

This study presents a two-dimensional mathematical model of a direct internal reforming solid oxide fuel cell (DIR-SOFC) stack which is based on the reforming reaction kinetics, electrochemical model and principles of mass and heat transfer. To stimulate the model and investigate the steady and dynamic performances of the DIR-SOFC stack, we employ a computational approach and several cases are used including standard conditions, and step changes in fuel flow rate, air flow rate and stack voltage. The temperature distribution, current density distribution, gas species molar fraction distributions and dynamic simulation for a cross-flow DIR-SOFC are presented and discussed. The results show that the dynamic responses are different at each point in the stack. The temperature gradients as well as the current density gradients are large in the stack, which should be considered when designing a stack. Further, a moderate increase in the fuel flow rate improves the performances of the stack. A decrease in the air flow rate can raise the stack temperature and increase fuel and oxygen utilizations. An increased output voltage reduces the current density and gas utilizations, resulting in a decrease in the temperature.     

Four different configurations of a 5 kW class shell-and-tube methane steam reformer with a low-temperature heat source

The methane steam reforming reaction is an extremely high endothermic reaction that needs a high temperature heat source. Various fuel cell hybrid systems have been developed to improve the thermal efficiency of the entire system. This paper presents a low temperature steam reformer for those hybrid systems to maximize the utilization of energy from a low temperature waste heat source. In this study, the steam reformer has a shell and tube configuration that is divided into the following zones: the inlet heat exchanging zone, the reforming zone and the exit heat exchanging zone. Four different configurations for methane steam reformers are developed to examine the effect of heat transfer on the methane conversion performance of the low temperature steam reformer. The experimental results show that the overall heat transfer area is a critical parameter in achieving a high methane conversion rate. When the heat transfer area increases about 30%, the results showed elevated dry mole fractions of hydrogen about 3% with about 30 °C rise of reformer outlet temperature.     

High temperature electrolyzer based on solid oxide co-ionic electrolyte: A theoretical model

In the present work a theoretical model of a solid oxide electrolyzer based on an electrolyte having both oxygen ion and proton conductivity is considered. The main parameters of the electrolytic process and an electrolyzer (distribution of gas components, electromotive forces and current densities along the electrolyzer channel, average values of electromotive forces and current densities) were calculated depending on a proton transport number and mode of the reactants’ feeding (co- and counter-flow). The performed analysis demonstrates considerable influence of the mode of feeding on all parameters of the electrolyzer: operation under the counter-flow mode is preferable as regards the specific characteristics and uniformity of their distribution along the electrolyzer. It is shown that the electrolyser's specific characteristics increase with the increase of the proton transport number.     

天然气水蒸气重整与SOFC耦合应用

固体氧化物燃料电池（SOFC）系统具有高能源效率和使用可再生燃料的可能性,将在未来的可持续能源系统中发挥重要作用。过去几年燃料电池的发展很快,但在成本、稳定性和市场份额方面,该技术仍处于早期发展阶段。在以天然气为燃料的SOFC系统中,燃料的重整过程和燃料利用水平都可能影响系统运行的稳定性、热量和能量平衡,从而影响系统的使用寿命、输出功率和效率。因此,对燃料重整过程的设计与控制对有效的SOFC电池运行具有重要意义。对天然气在SOFC系统中的重整器配置方式（包括外重整和内重整）、重整参数和重整燃料利用方式进行了详细的综述分析,并对未来天然气SOFC系统的发展进行了展望。     

Entropy generation analysis in a monolithic-type solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)

The aim of the paper is to investigate possible improvements in the geometry design of a monolithic solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) through analysis of the entropy generation terms. The different contributions to the local rate of entropy generation are calculated using a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model of the fuel cell, accounting for energy transfer, fluid dynamics, current transfer, chemical reactions and electrochemistry. The fuel cell geometry is then modified to reduce the main sources of irreversibility and increase its efficiency.     

基于AspenPlus的兆瓦级燃料电池分布式发电系统建模及仿真分析

目的   燃料电池分布式发电技术是适应未来能源低碳化、清洁化、高效化发展趋势的重要应用方向。国内燃料电池电站项目较少,缺乏实际项目经验积累。为了推进燃料电池分布式电站技术的应用,文章概述了国内外应用现状,总结了高温燃料电池的优势与不足,调研了国内燃料电池建设应用案例,并建立了固体氧化物燃料电池与熔融碳酸盐燃料电池发电系统流程。 方法   经过文献调研与实地调研,确定了两种适合建设大型电站的燃料电池分布式发电技术,并利用AspenPlus化工模拟软件建立燃料电池系统流程模型、电化学模型和能量分析模型,并开展系统的性能仿真分析。 结果   分析结果与实际运行结果相吻合,分析预测的系统性能趋势与已有研究相一致。 结论   该仿真方法可用于兆瓦级高温燃料电池分布式发电系统的研究,可为扩大燃料电池应用规模提供数据支持。     

天然气重整SOFC/MGT混合分布式供能系统性能分析

针对固体氧化物燃料电池(SOFC)与微型燃气轮机(MGT)构成的混合分布式供能系统,首先建立了一种管式SOFC准二维数值模型,优化了辐射计算,提高了热传递模型的准确性;考虑了CO及H2同时作为燃料参加电化学反应,并完善了损失计算模型;最后采用所发展的系统性能预测模型,分别在内部重整和外部重整情况下,预测比较了两种SOFC/MGT混合系统的性能,结果表明外部重整系统在系统输出功率、CO2排放以及热应力分布方面都比内部重整系统具有优势,然而这种轻微的优势是需要额外增加外部重整器的设备投资换取的。     

Nonlinear identification of a DIR-SOFC stack using wavelet networks

Application of wavelet networks for identification of a direct internal reforming solid oxide fuel cell (DIR-SOFC) stack is reported in this paper. The SOFC is a complex system particularly when it is directly fueled with hydrocarbons (natural gas, coal gas, etc.). Most of the traditional models of the SOFC, based on the reforming, electrochemical and thermal modeling, are too complicated. To facilitate controller design and analysis of systems, the wavelet network dynamic model of the DIR-SOFC is constructed, avoiding the consideration of the complex processes in the fuel cells. The input and output data are used for initializing and training the wavelet network by a recursive approach. The Gram–Schmidt algorithm, the Cross-Validation method and immune selection principles are applied to optimization of the network. The simulation is performed and comparisons of characteristics under different operating conditions are given. The results show high static and dynamic accuracy of the identified model. Further, the obtained wavelet network model can be used for developing the model-based controllers of DIR-SOFC.     

Effect of operating conditions and gas flow patterns on the system performances of IIR-SOFC fueled by methanol

Mathematical models of an indirect internal reforming solid oxide fuel cells (IIR-SOFC) fueled by methanol were developed to analyze the thermal coupling of the internal endothermic steam reforming with exothermic electrochemical reactions and predict the system performance. The simulations indicated that IIR-SOFC fueled by methanol can be well performed as autothermal operation, although slight temperature gradient occurred at the entrance of the reformer chamber. Sensitivity analysis of five important parameters (i.e. operating voltage, reforming catalyst reactivity, inlet steam to carbon ratio, operating pressure and flow direction) was then performed. The increase of operating voltage lowered the average temperature along the reformer chamber and improved the electrical efficiency, but it oppositely reduced the average current density. Greater temperature profile along the system can be obtained by applying the catalyst with lower reforming reactivity; nevertheless, the current density and electrical efficiency slightly decreased. By using high inlet steam to carbon ratio, the cooling spot at the entrance of the reformer can be reduced but both current density and electrical efficiency were decreased. Lastly, with increasing operating pressure, the system efficiency increased and the temperature dropping at the reformer chamber was minimized.