Control Performance Study on the Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Hybrid Systems

The intention of this work is to investigate the control characteristics of molten carbonate fuel cell hybrid systems through dynamic simulation. Because of the complexity and interaction between different components in the hybrid systems, several parameters, such as the turbine rotational speed, the temperatures within the fuel cell, the differential pressure between the anodic and the cathodic side, and the steam-to-carbon ratio, need to be monitored and kept within safe limits. On the other hand, the system response to load variations is required to be as quick as possible in order to meet the energy demand. Several control loops were introduced into the hybrid system. This paper focuses on the control performance to regulate the net electrical power from the hybrid system, avoiding malfunctions or damage. The results for several operating conditions are presented and discussed.

[1]  James Larminie,et al.  Fuel Cell Systems Explained , 2000 .

[2]  Peter Heidebrecht,et al.  Molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) with internal reforming : model-based analysis of cell dynamics , 2003 .

[3]  G. T. Polley,et al.  Thermal design of multi-stream heat exchangers , 2002 .

[4]  H. Ho,et al.  Multi-level modeling of SOFC–gas turbine hybrid system , 2003 .

[5]  H. Atakül,et al.  A basic model for analysis of molten carbonate fuel cell behavior , 2007 .

[6]  Byoung Sam Kang,et al.  Effects of system configuration and operating condition on MCFC system efficiency , 2002 .

[7]  A. London,et al.  Compact heat exchangers , 1960 .

[8]  N. Woudstra,et al.  The influence of operating temperature on the efficiency of a combined heat and power fuel cell plant , 2003 .

[9]  Maurizio Fermeglia,et al.  Steady state simulation of energy production from biomass by molten carbonate fuel cells , 2006 .

[10]  Shilie Weng,et al.  Modeling and simulation of solid oxide fuel cell based on the volume–resistance characteristic modeling technique , 2008 .

[11]  Kwang Y. Lee,et al.  Modeling and cycling control of carbonate fuel cell power plants , 2002 .

[12]  W. Rohsenow,et al.  Handbook of heat transfer applications , 1985 .

[13]  Kwang Y. Lee,et al.  Development of a stack simulation model for control study on direct reforming molten carbonate fuel cell power plant , 1999 .

[14]  Jack Brouwer,et al.  Development of controls for dynamic operation of carbonate fuel cell-gas turbine hybrid systems , 2005 .

[15]  F. R. Foulkes,et al.  Fuel Cell Handbook , 1989 .

[16]  Aristide F. Massardo,et al.  Hybrid systems for distributed power generation based on pressurisation and heat recovering of an existing 100 kW molten carbonate fuel cell , 2003 .

[17]  Faryar Jabbari,et al.  Analysis of a molten carbonate fuel cell: Numerical modeling and experimental validation , 2006 .

[18]  J. Robert Selman,et al.  Molten-salt fuel cells—Technical and economic challenges , 2006 .

[19]  Yoshiyuki Izaki,et al.  System calculation of integrated coal gasification/molten carbonate fuel cell combined cycle: Reflection of electricity generating performances of practical cell , 2004 .

[20]  Timo Kivisaari,et al.  The feasibility of a coal gasifier combined with a high-temperature fuel cell , 2004 .

[21]  Hee Chun Lim,et al.  Consideration of numerical simulation parameters and heat transfer models for a molten carbonate fuel cell stack , 2002 .

[22]  M. D. Lukas,et al.  Model‐Based Analysis for the Control of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Systems , 2005 .

[23]  Piotr Tomczyk,et al.  MCFC versus other fuel cells—Characteristics, technologies and prospects , 2006 .

[24]  Christoph Stiller,et al.  Design, Operation and Control Modelling of SOFC/GT Hybrid Systems , 2006 .

[25]  Rory A. Roberts,et al.  Dynamic Simulation of Carbonate Fuel Cell-Gas Turbine Hybrid Systems , 2004 .

[26]  Kirill V. Lobachyov,et al.  An advanced integrated biomass gasification and molten fuel cell power system , 1998 .

[27]  J. R. Selman,et al.  The Polarization of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Electrodes I . Analysis of Steady‐State Polarization Data , 1991 .

[28]  Huisheng Zhang,et al.  Dynamic Modeling and Simulation of Distributed Parameter Heat Exchanger , 2005 .

[29]  Huisheng Zhang,et al.  Dynamic numerical simulation of a molten carbonate fuel cell , 2006 .

[30]  Hee Chun Lim,et al.  Effect of various stack parameters on temperature rise in molten carbonate fuel cell stack operation , 2000 .