Computational Studies for the Evaluation of Fuel Flexibility in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: A Case with Biosyngas

The fuel flexibility of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) is one of the advantages of this technology, and biosyngas produced from biomass is emerging as a new fuel. The fuelling of SOFCs with different fuels is always challenging because of the associated risks. Mathematical modeling tools are useful for predicting the operational safety constraints and designs of SOFCs that are suitable for different fuels. Using a single channel model that incorporates direct internal reforming (DIR), this work investigates the fuel flexibility of an anode‐supported intermediate temperature planar solid oxide fuel under co‐flow operation. The DIR reaction of methane, the water‐gas shift reaction (WGS) and the electrochemical reaction of hydrogen are the three reactions taken into account in this simulation work. Detailed comparisons of the gas concentrations, the current density distributions and the temperature change profiles are presented and discussed. These simulation results provide the initial data for performance analyses and safety predictions, which will be helpful for our future experimental investigations. The thermodynamic predictions of both nickel oxidation and carbon deposition are employed to check the operational safety of SOFCs fuelled with biosyngas.     

对“垃圾衍生燃料”RDF之探析

当前,我国水泥工业在可燃废弃物应用技术方面都还处于一家一户、自制自用、效率极低的初级阶段。发达国家的替代燃料:“垃圾衍生燃料”RDF、“固体回收燃料”SRF、“次煤”Subcoal和“纸塑垃圾衍生燃料”RPF制成的原材料都是可燃废弃物,只是处理工艺技术不同或者由垃圾中分拣出的可燃废弃物不同,制成颗粒状衍生燃料的品质不同,这些都可以替代部分甚或替代全部化石燃料在水泥窑炉中应用。我国大力发展“替代燃料”产业,有助于水泥工业消纳更多的“可燃废弃物”,为改善环境尤其是城镇环境和面貌,为我国的节能减排和绿色高质量发展发挥更大的作用。     

Velocity of convective currents in boilover

The mathematical model proposed earlier, to simulate the thin layer boilover, has been modified to represent boilover phenomenon in general. In this modified form of the model, the convection current velocity through the fuel layer is considered as a time varying parameter. The model predictions agreed well with the experimental data of this work as well as of other authors. The initial value of the convection current velocity was calculated through the model for different fuels and found to be increasing by the increasing initial fuel layer thickness. The results showed that a fuel with a higher Prandtl number requires a longer time to start boilover and a lower Fourier number represents a higher risk to produce it.     

Fuel effect on the liquid-phase penetration of an evaporating spray under transient diesel-like conditions

Measurements of the maximum liquid-phase penetration have been performed injecting five different fuels through a single-hole nozzle in an optical engine under a large set of thermodynamic and injection conditions. The focus of this paper is twofold. First, it intends to study fuel physical properties on liquid-phase fuel penetration. The choice made on Fischer–Tropsch diesel (FTD) and biodiesel fuels has been highly motivated by their potential to be, at short or middle term, possible substitutes to the conventional diesel fuel. Extensive characterization of fuel physical and chemical properties under ambient conditions are provided and related to the liquid-phase penetration in order to provide an accessible tool to predict liquid spray behavior based on cheap, off-engine measurements. Fischer–Tropsch fuels appeared to be the easiest to vaporize while biodiesel blends were getting always harder to vaporize as the Rapeseed Methyl Ester (RME) rate was increased. The second objective of this work is to study the time-response of liquid-phase penetration when subjected to density and temperature variations. Injections of 8 ms at three different pressures have been performed in transient diesel-like conditions with density and temperature time derivatives up to 2000 kg m⁻³ s⁻¹ and 20,000 K s⁻¹. In most cases, the spray appeared to closely follow predictions made from empirical models built out of steady-state ambient conditions, leading to the conclusion of an instantaneous adjustment of the spray to its environment, validating: (1) the hypothesis made in 1D spray models; (2) the use of empirical models in unsteady-state environment when obtained under steady-state conditions.     

Fuel injection characteristics and spray behavior of DME blended with methyl ester derived from soybean oil

The objective of this work is to analyze the fuel spray injection characteristics and macroscopic behaviors of the dimethyl ether (DME) blended methyl ester derived from soybean oil at different blending ratios. The injection characteristics of the blended fuels such as injection delay, injection rate, and effective velocity in the nozzle flow passage were investigated under the various DME and its blended fuels. In comparison with the injection delay of blended fuels, the lower blending ratio of DME blended fuel with biodiesel showed a shorter injection delay than the higher blending ratio of the blended fuel. At the same energizing period and injection pressure, the DME fuel with a higher blending ratio showed a longer injection duration than that of the lower blending ratio. The higher DME blended with biodiesel also showed a low peak value of injection rate compared to the lower DME blended fuel at the same injection time. As the blending ratio of DME fuel was increased, the effective initial velocity of neat biodiesel and lower DME blended with biodiesel increased compared to the higher DME blended fuel. In comparison of spray penetration of blended fuel, biodiesel and blended fuel have a similar spray length at the same condition except the neat DME fuel.     

Studies on EVA‐Based Wax Fuel for Launch Vehicle Applications

A fuel for the hybrid rocket system was developed. The attempts made to improve the mechanical properties of wax by adding EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) are illustrated. It was observed that the mechanical properties obtained by adding EVA to wax were dependent on the process of curing the fuel specimen. A proprietary method of curing the fuel specimen was established. The percentage elongation obtained with 20 % EVA and 80 % of wax was around 17 %, which was much higher than the values obtained with pure wax (4 %). It was observed from the study that the higher the percentage of EVA content in wax was, the better the mechanical properties were. Regression rate studies with EVA and wax combination were carried out. It was observed that the regression rate decreased upon addition of EVA in wax. This reduction was compensated by using a bluff body at the head end. The regression rate obtained with 20 % EVA and 80 % wax even with the use of bluff body is lower than that obtained with pure wax, but is around 3.5 times the regression rate obtained with polymeric fuels.     

玻璃熔窑使用不同燃料的能耗计算

国内浮法玻璃熔窑多数是以重油为燃料的,少数以天然气、焦炉煤气、发生炉热煤气为燃料.每种燃料的热值不同,对应的理论燃烧温度、实际燃烧温度、能够达到的炉壁热点温度也都不相同.从而各种燃料玻璃熔窑的单位能耗指标、熔窑热效率也不同.本文给出了使用不同燃料的玻璃熔窑计算单位能耗指标的经验公式.     

Thermodynamic Modeling and Evaluation of Fuel Evaporation in Petrol Engine Tanks

The thermodynamic modeling of the fuel evaporation in a tank of petrol engine cars by calculation of vapor-liquid equilibria of multi-compound systems of real model fluids is described. An overview of the modeling background and formulation is provided. The results of simulated fuel evaporation with the derived model for the first diurnal for different types of fuels and influencing parameters are presented.     

Regression Rate Studies of Paraffin Wax‐HTPB Hybrid Fuels Using Swirl Injectors

Studies on the regression rates of three compositions of paraffin wax‐HTPB hybrid fuel grains in a stream of gaseous oxygen using two different swirl injectors at a fixed injection pressure were carried out. It was found that the regression rate in the hybrid fuel increases with increasing paraffin wax percentage, which may be attributed to melt‐flow effects. The local regression rates, average regression rates, fuel mass consumption rates, and total mass fluxes for the hybrid fuels were found to be dependent on the swirl injector configuration. All three hybrid fuels were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, the thermal stability and thermal degradation behavior of the hybrid fuels were investigated by DTA/TGA techniques.     

Emission Reduction of Regenerative Fuel Powered Co-Generation Plants with SCR- and Oxidation-Catalysts

Since the beginning of combustion engine development in this recent century various different fuels have been successfully tested. Diesel engines have been adapted to fuels made from mineral oils because of the rising importance and the cheapness in comparison to other fuels. On the other hand, it is possible to burn regenerative fuels in engines and achieve some significant advantages in comparison to fossil diesel fuel. This is, for example, a closed carbon dioxide (CO₂) cycle which causes no green house effect. It is possible to extract oil from various seeds like rapeseed. It is also possible to burn used oil from the food processing industry or waste grease and oil from food recycling companies. The great advantages: (1) food recycling oils can produce energy instead of use as animal food, and (2) as nobody knows exactly the consistency of the collected oils, poisonous pollution is possible. These regenerative fuels can be burned without any further processing in special adapted diesel engines, for example an Elsbett engine, or in precombustion engines with large swept volumes. Most researchers focused on operating diesel engines with regenerative fuels and reducing the emissions caring only about regulated exhaust components. In comparison to these studies it is necessary to learn more about the emissions beyond the exhaust regulations. Additionally emission reduction is possible by using an SCR-catalyst (selective catalytic reduction) to reduce the NO₂ combined with an oxidation-catalyst which reduces any kind of oxidisable emissions. The TU München, Lehrstuhl für Energie- und Umwelttechnik der Lebensmittelindustrie, operates a small co-generation plant with the ability of analysing the standard emission components (CO, NO₂, HC, particles, CO₂, O₂) and unregulated components (SO₂, NH₃, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), aldehyde, ketone). The emissions show some significant differences in comparison to fossil diesel fuel which is caused by the diversity of each fuel. Results of an investigation on four different fuels (wastefat methyl ester (WME), rapeseed methyl ester (RME), rapeseed oil and diesel fuel) burned in a small co-generation plant with a SCR- and oxidation-catalyst will be presented. A comparison to the emissions before and after the catalysts will be shown additionally to the results of the different reduction potential of diesel fuel, methyl ester or untreated oils. The combination of regenerative fuel and catalyst shows good potential for reducing the emissions. Furthermore the use of regenerative fuels is a sustainable production of energy with an overall efficiency of almost 90%. Regenerative fuels based on vegetable oils and waste fat are a valuable form of energy and have some significant advantages in comparison to diesel fuel, like an almost closed carbon dioxide cycle, rapid biological decomposition and lower CO, HC and particle emissions. Regenerative fuels should also meet minimum standards discussed in the paper to avoid the risk of engine damage and to reduce emissions.     

Fuel Cell Vehicle Simulation – Part 1: Benchmarking Available Fuel Cell Vehicle Simulation Tools

Fuel cell vehicle simulation is one method for systematic and fast investigation of the different vehicle options (fuel choice, hybridization, reformer technologies). However, a sufficient modeling program, capable of modeling the different design options, is not available today. Modern simulation programs should be capable of serving as tools for analysis as well as development. Shortfalls of the existing programs, initially developed for internal combustion engine hybrid vehicles, are: (i)Insufficient modeling of transient characteristics; (ii) Insufficient modeling of the fuel cells system; (iii) Insufficient modeling of advanced hybrid systems; (iv) Employment of a non‐causal (backwards looking) structure; (v) Significant shortcomings in the area of controls. In the area of analysis, a modeling tool for fuel cell vehicles needs to address the transient dynamic interaction between the electric drive train and the fuel cell system. Especially for vehicles with slow responding on‐board fuel processor, this interaction is very different from the interaction between a battery (as power source) and an electric drive train in an electric vehicle design. Non‐transient modeling leads to inaccurate predictions of vehicle performance and fuel consumption. When applied in the area of development, the existing programs do not support the employment of newer techniques, such as rapid prototyping. This is because the program structure merges control algorithms and component models, or different control algorithms (from different components) are lumped together in one single control block and not assigned to individual components as they are in real vehicles. In both cases, the transfer of control algorithms from the model into existing hardware is not possible. This paper is the first part of a three part series and benchmarks the “state of the art” of existing programs. The second paper introduces a new simulation program, which tries to overcome existing barriers. Specifically it explicitly recognizes the dynamic interaction between fuel cell system, drive train and optional additional energy storage.     

Sulfur Removal from Low‐Sulfur Gasoline and Diesel Fuel by Metal‐Organic Frameworks

Several materials in the class of metal‐organic frameworks (MOF) were investigated to determine their sorption characteristics for sulfur compounds from fuels. The materials were tested using different model oils and common fuels such as low‐sulfur gasoline or diesel fuel at room temperature and ambient pressure. Thiophene and tetrahydrothiophene (THT) were chosen as model substances. Total‐sulfur concentrations in the model oils ranged from 30 mg/kg (S from thiophene) to 9 mg/kg (S from tetrahydrothiophene) as determined by elementary analysis. Initial sulfur contents of 8 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg were identified for low‐sulfur gasoline and for diesel fuel, respectively, by analysis of the common liquid fuels. Most of the MOF materials examined were not suitable for use as sulfur adsorbers. However, a high efficiency for sulfur removal from fuels and model oils was noticed for a special copper‐containing MOF (copper benzene‐1,3,5‐tricarboxylate, Cu‐BTC‐MOF). By use of this material, 78 wt % of the sulfur content was removed from thiophene containing model oils and an even higher decrease of up to 86 wt % was obtained for THT‐based model oils. Moreover, the sulfur content of low‐sulfur gasoline was reduced to 6.5 mg/kg, which represented a decrease of more than 22 %. The sulfur level in diesel fuel was reduced by an extent of 13 wt %. Time‐resolved measurements demonstrated that the sulfur‐sorption mainly occurs in the first 60 min after contact with the adsorbent, so that the total time span of the desulfurization process can be limited to 1 h. Therefore, this material seems to be highly suitable for sulfur reduction in commercial fuels in order to meet regulatory requirements and demands for automotive exhaust catalysis‐systems or exhaust gas sensors.     

Modeling of vapor-liquid equilibrium of gasoline-ethanol blended fuels for flash boiling simulations

Flash boiling is a physical phenomenon which governs the non-equilibrium phase change of a high temperature fluid as it is depressurized below its vapor pressure. The modeling of this process is of importance to a number of industrial applications and requires the vapor-liquid equilibrium properties of the fluid under consideration. The highly non-ideal nature of gasoline-ethanol fuel blends makes vapor-liquid equilibrium calculations extremely difficult for such fluids. A simple model known as GEFlash (Gasoline-Ethanol Flash), based on existing literature and fundamental chemical engineering thermodynamics is proposed to calculate the properties of gasoline-ethanol fuel blends that are required to perform flash boiling simulations. In addition, a second model based on the chemical engineering software Aspen Plus is also proposed and the predictions of the two models are validated against experimental data available in open literature. The results indicate that both models reproduce the trend in experimental data for vapor pressures and saturated liquid density for blends with different ethanol contents. The GEFlash model does not match the vapor mole fraction predictions of the Aspen Plus model for fuels with low ethanol content (E20 and E40). However, the vapor mole fractions for high ethanol content fuels (greater than E60) are accurate over the majority of the temperature range tested.     

Design of an indirect heat rotary kiln gasifier

A non-ordinary type of solid fuel gasification reactor, which was under development for the few past decades and it is briefly described as indirect heat rotary kiln gasifier, seems to be capable of sufficiently satisfying the incorporated gasification needs in the most challenging contemporary power technologies using solid fuels, like IGCC and CLC combustion. The design of such a gasifier emerges in this work, while the focus is mostly on the presentation of the relevant theoretical model. Moreover, model predictions are compared and optimized with respect to experimental data that were acquired in a pilot scale gasification unit including the suggested type of gasifier. Comparisons showed successful predictions of such a marginal error that could be characterized as quite sufficient for a primary model validation. However, the model flexibility to a wide variety of different solid fuels, rotary kiln configurations and operating conditions has to be verified by assessment of further experimental results.     

The Use of Methane‐Containing Syngas in a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell: A Comparison of Kinetic Models and a Performance Evaluation

The nickel‐based anodes of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) can catalytically reform hydrocarbons, which make natural gas, gasification syngas, etc., become potential fuels in addition to hydrogen. SR and water–gas shift (WGS) often occur inside SOFCs when operated on these fuels. Their reaction rates affect the partial pressures of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, the local temperatures and the related Nernst voltages. Consequently, the reaction rates affect the electrochemical reactions in the fuel cell. Three different kinetic models were used to characterize methane SR in a tubular SOFC; the results of each model were evaluated and compared. The polarizations of the fuel cell results of these models were validated against experimental data. The performance of a fuel cell operated with different fuels and based on a selected kinetic model was further studied in terms of the anode oxygen partial pressure, the thermo‐electrochemical distribution, and the system level performance.     

微生物燃料电池研究进展

微生物燃料电池的研究早在二十世纪七十年代就有开展,但是直到最近两年,随着其功率的提高才成为研究热点。其基本原理与与燃料电池相似,但可以利用更复杂的燃料(如葡萄糖,蔗糖,乙酸盐等)来产生电流,因此可以在处理污水的同时实现电力输出。文章就其基本原理,最新研究方向和在污水处理方面的应用做了简单介绍,并对其前景进行了展望。     

Optimised Mixture Formation for Diesel Fuel Processing

Mixture formation plays an important role in the diesel reforming process. It is important to maintain proper O₂/C and H₂O/C ratios to avoid hot spots and coking. Fuel must be completely evaporated before entering the reaction zone in order to prevent catalyst damage by coking. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to optimise the mixing process. Turbulent mixing, diesel spray injections and evaporation and simplified chemical reactions have been calculated. This revealed critical parts of the existing construction. However, experimental verification is necessary. To identify thermodynamic conditions for a possible carbon formation process, experiments with idealised model fuels as well as with real diesel fuel were carried out. Flow visualisation experiments serve for the verification of the CFD simulations. Quartz glass reactors as models of the reformers were operated under real mixing temperatures (400 °C) to observe the effect of the flow profile on fuel sprays. Experiments with coloured fuels were used to visualise the flow and concentration profiles in the mixing chamber. Results were compared with CFD models. Two patented reformers were designed as a result of the CFD optimisation. These were operated for 500 h and 1,000 h respectively with a commercially available diesel, showing very promising results.     

Soot formation in gas turbines using heavy fuels. 1

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the broadening of fuel specifications on the performance of a gas turbine combustor, particularly on soot formation and oxidation, and flame tube durability. Tests were conducted with a fully-developed combustor system, the main measurements comprising total radiation, exhaust smoke and temperatures at different locations. Five fuels were used: kerosine, as aviation fuel; gas oil, as the current industrial gas turbine fuel and possible future aviation fuel; R25 (where 25 is the volume percentage of residual fuel oil in the blend with gas oil), as equivalent to crude oil now in use in many utility gas turbines; and also R50 and R70 to represent future heavier fuels. Combustor pressures were 0.3, 0.7 and 1.0 MPa. Inlet air temperatures were 313, 390 and 460 K. Primary zone air/fuel mass ratios were 12, 15 and 25. Total air/fuel ratios were 60 and 120. Attempts were made to develop a mathematical model of the soot formation-oxidation processes that occur in the system, and to include in the model some parameters to represent the change in fuel properties. In this paper, comparison of the soot formation predictions of the model with the experimental data is seen to be favourable, particularly at full power conditions.     

Experimental Investigations and Modeling of Direct Internal Reforming of Biogases in Tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Biogas‐fed Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) systems can be considered as interesting integrated systems in the framework of distributed power generation. In particular, bio‐methane and bio‐hydrogen produced from anaerobic digestion of organic wastes represent renewable carbon‐neutral fuels for high efficiency electrochemical generators. With such non‐conventional mixtures fed to the anode of the SOFC, the interest lies in understanding the multi‐physics phenomena there occurring and optimizing the geometric and operation parameters of the SOFC, while avoiding operating and fuel conditions that can lead to or accelerate degradation processes. In this study, an anode‐supported (Ni‐YSZ) tubular SOFC was considered; the tubular geometry enables a relatively easy separation of the air and fuel reactants and it allows one to evaluate the temperature field of the fuel gas inside the tube, which is strictly related to the electrochemical and heterogeneous chemical reactions occurring within the anode volume. The experiments have been designed to analyze the behavior of the cell under different load and fuel utilization (FU) conditions, providing efficiency maps for both fuels. The experimental results were used to validate a multi‐physics model of the tubular cell. The model showed to be in good agreement with the experimental data, and was used to study the sensitive of some selected geometrical parameters modification over the cell performances.     

平板玻璃熔窑燃料浅析

通过对目前已成功用于我国玻璃熔窑的天然气、重油、煤焦油、焦炉煤气、发生炉煤气、石油焦粉6种燃料的物化性质、燃烧状态、燃烧产物及对玻璃熔化质量的影响、对熔窑耐火材料的烧蚀、烟气含硫量粉尘量等方面进行对比分析,阐述了各自的优缺点,提出了应重视的问题,以便于玻璃企业对燃料品种作出判断和选择。