Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Gas Turbine Combined Cycle for Marine Propulsion: Part B — Part Load Operation

Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell/Gas Turbine (MCFC/GT) hybrid power systems represent a modern, efficient and clean alternative to the currently used marine propulsion systems. The objective of this paper is to present the results found from the application of MCFC/GT hybrid power systems to marine propulsion, and in particular to present the results of the off-design performance of a COGAFC system (Combined Gas Turbine and Fuel Cell System). The results presented are subjected to the current uncertainties on MCFC power systems derived from its early stage of development. It is, then, the interest of the authors to summarise the results of the research work done, providing to the lectors the understanding and a general view of which are the concerns, the benefits, and which should be the next steps on the implementation of these systems. The study is summarised into two papers: “Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Gas Turbine Combined Cycle for Marine Propulsion. Part A: Design Point Operation” (Basurto et al., 2002), that describes the selection of the design point, and “Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Gas Turbine Combined Cycle for Marine Propulsion. Part B: Part Load Operation”, that describes the off-design performance of the system. The study is based on previous work published by the authors on the integration of MCFCs with gas turbines (Basurto et al., 2001).Copyright © 2002 by ASME