Solid Oxide Fuel Cell and Steam Reformer System Steady State Modeling

Abstract:

A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is widely recognized to be an attractive energy conversion device owing to its fuel flexibility and high efficiency. Hydrogen-rich stream produced by fuel processor, especially steam reforming process, is used as fuel carrier converting to generate electrical energy. This paper presents a steady state modeling of SOFC system with an integrated steam reformer fueled by ethanol. The main objective of this study is to analyze the steady state characteristics of this system. The basic operating principle of SOFC is briefly introduced and the steam reformer converting ethanol as the fuel source into hydrogen-rich gas is also discussed. Based on thermodynamic analysis, the equilibrium compositions of produced gas fed into SOFC can be predicted by using the method of Gibbs free energy minimization. The effects of main operating parameters of steam reformer including the temperature and water-to-ethanol molar ratio on the SOFC power generation are investigated. In the SOFC operation, an increase of SOFC temperature causes a decrease of cell voltage and an increase of excess air entering a fuel cell to maintain the adiabatic temperature of SOFC stack. The steady state conditions for the SOFC and ethanol steam reformer systems are summarized in this paper as well.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 446-447)
• Pages: 790-795
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.446-447.790
• Online since: November 2013
• Authors: Nawadee Srisiriwat, Chananchai Wutthithanyawat
• Keywords: Ethanol, Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC), Steadystate Modeling, Steam Reformer

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