Thermodynamic performance analysis of three solid oxide fuel cell and gas microturbine hybrid systems for application in auxiliary power units

In this study, three different configurations of a solid oxide fuel cell and gas microturbine hybrid system are evaluated for application in auxiliary power units. The first configuration is a common hybrid system in auxiliary power units, utilizing a fuel cell stack in the structure of the gas turbine cycle. The other configurations use two series and parallel fuel cell stacks in the structure of the gas turbine cycle. The main purpose of this research is thermodynamic analysis, evaluation of the performance of the proposed hybrid systems in similar conditions, and selection of an appropriate system in terms of efficiency, power generation, and entropy generation rate. In this study, the utilized fuel cells were subjected to electrochemical, thermodynamic, and thermal analyses and their working temperatures were calculated under various working conditions. Results indicate that the hybrid system with two series stacks had maximum power generation and efficiency compared with the other two cases. Moreover, the simple hybrid system and the system with two parallel stacks had relatively equal pure power generation and efficiency. According to the investigations, hybrid system with two series fuel cell stacks, which had 3424 and 1712 cells, respectively, can achieve the electrical efficiency of over 48%. A hybrid system with two parallel fuel cell stacks, in which each stack had 2568 cells, had the electrical efficiency of 46.3%. Findings suggested that maximum electrical efficiency occurred between the pressure ratios of 5–6 in the proposed hybrid systems.     

Parametric simulation and performance analysis of a solar gas turbine power plant from thermodynamic and exergy perspectives

Using solar energy in gas turbine cycles is a new method that can improves the efficiency of gas turbines. Placing a solar receiver before a combustion chamber can raise the temperature of the air coming into the chamber and reduce the consumption of fuel in the chamber. The system that combines a solar energy receiver with a gas turbine cycle is technically called a “solar gas turbine”. The goal of this paper is the parametric simulation and performance analysis of a gas turbine cycle equipped with a solar receiver from thermodynamic and exergy aspects of view. The selected parameters in this study, include the pressure ratio of compressor, the temperature of gases at the turbine inlet and the direct normal irradiance. The obtained results indicate that the fuel consumption of this combined system is reduced by using a solar receiver and the temperature of gases entering the combustion chamber increased. The reduction of consumed fuel, in turn, reduces the rate of exergy destruction in the combustion chamber. Another important point is that the solar receiver itself has the least amount of exergy destruction. The net power generated by a solar gas turbine cycle is 10 % higher than that produced by a simple gas turbine cycle. Also, the studies show that the electrical efficiency of a solar gas turbine cycle is about 41 % higher than the simple gas turbine cycle.

     

Analyzing the thermodynamic performance of a hybrid system consisting of a gas turbine and two Stirling engines in series and parallel configurations

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy - This paper aims to analyze the thermodynamic performance of a gas turbine–Stirling engine hybrid system with series and parallel configurations....