Process Simulation for Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells

In the framework of electricity production from molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC), this work presents the results obtained from steady state process simulation, coupled with a detailed dynamic model for the cell. The derivation of the model is briefly outlined, and detailed results of the simulation are reported. Macroscopic state variables of the overall system process are investigated by means of sensitivity analysis, yielding clear directions for process improvement and optimisation. The detailed steady state and dynamic simulation of the MCFC for a bi-dimensional cross flow configuration showed the importance of the state variable distribution in the cell. Both models were based on data from real plants, and the simulation conditions were selected according to real operating conditions. The process studied was a 500 kW MCFC power system based on Ansaldo fuel cell (AFC) technology. The steady state simulation revealed the main interactions among the different devices involved in the process, and the subsequent sensitivity analysis showed that there is room for improvement in electrical efficiency by increasing: i) the steam to methane ratio, ii) the pressure, and iii) the air feed ratio. The dynamic simulation yielded the quantitative response of the system to several, different, perturbations and proved to be a valid tool for determining temperature, current, and voltage profiles as a function of time, within the fuel cells.

[1]  D. Freude.  Fuel Cells and Their Applications , 1997 .

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

[3]  Yasuo Miyake,et al.  A study of heat and material balances in an internal-reforming molten carbonate fuel cell , 1995 .

[4]  K. Hemmes,et al.  On modelling molten carbonate fuel-cell cathodes by electrochemical potentials , 2000 .

[5]  W He,et al.  Dynamic model for molten carbonate fuel-cell power-generation systems , 1998 .

[6]  Barbara Bosio,et al.  Industrial experience on the development of the molten carbonate fuel cell technology , 1998 .

[7]  M. Barak,et al.  Fuel Cells: Theory and Application , 1968 .

[8]  D. Simonsson,et al.  A heterogeneous model for the MCFC cathode , 1995 .

[9]  W. He,et al.  Three-dimensional simulation of a molten carbonate fuel cell stack using computational fluid dynamics technique , 1995 .

[10]  Rodolfo Taccani,et al.  Simulation of process for electrical energy production based on molten carbonate fuel cells , 2003 .

[11]  Manfred Bischoff,et al.  Operating experience with a 250 kWel molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) power plant , 2002 .

[12]  Toshio Abe,et al.  Numerical analyses of the internal conditions of a molten carbonate fuel cell stack: comparison of stack performances for various gas flow types , 1998 .

[13]  城塚 正,et al.  Chemical Engineering Scienceについて , 1962 .

[14]  Karl V. Kordesch,et al.  Fuel cells and their applications , 1996 .

[15]  M. Matsumura,et al.  Development of an internal reforming molten carbonate fuel cell stack , 1995 .

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

[17]  Barbara Bosio,et al.  Preliminary experimental and theoretical analysis of limit performance of molten carbonate fuel cells , 2001 .

[18]  Hee Chun Lim,et al.  Studies of the effects of the reformer in an internal-reforming molten carbonate fuel cell by mathematical modeling , 2002 .

[19]  Hee Chun Lim,et al.  Analysis of temperature and pressure fields in molten carbonate fuel cell stacks , 2001 .

[20]  J.P.P Huijsmans,et al.  Development of second generation direct internal reforming molten carbonate fuel cell stack technology for cogeneration application , 1998 .

[21]  Raymond Anthony George,et al.  Status of tubular SOFC field unit demonstrations , 2000 .

[22]  Wei He.  NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF MOLTEN CARBONATE FUEL CELL SYSTEMS , 1997 .

[23]  Barbara Bosio,et al.  Modeling and experimentation of molten carbonate fuel cell reactors in a scale-up process , 1999 .

[24]  Hee Chun Lim,et al.  Effects of water-gas shift reaction on simulated performance of a molten carbonate fuel cell , 2002 .

[25]  Byoung Sam Kang,et al.  Experimental study on the dynamic characteristics of kW-scale molten carbonate fuel cell systems , 2001 .

[26]  K. Joon.  Critical issues and future prospects for molten carbonate fuel cells , 1996 .