Part load operation of a SOFC/GT hybrid system: Dynamic analysis

The hybrid solid oxide fuel cell and gas turbine system is a promising solution in the future small scale power plants, thanks to its high energy/power efficiency with low environmental impact. In fact, due to the synergistic effect of using a high temperature fuel cell such as Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) and a recuperative gas turbine (GT), the integrated system efficiency can be significantly improved. The goal of this paper is to develop a complete dynamic model of a hybrid system (HS) for the optimization of the plant components, with particular attention to the heat exchangers, also in consideration to the transient response (in terms of the electricity and the interaction between SOFC and GT) of the whole system. This research activity represents the following part of [1], in which the authors analyzed the steady state behavior of the hybrid system through a zero dimensional model developed in Aspen Plus environment. Specifically, in this paper all the model components presented in [1] were implemented in Matlab®Simulink environment. With the aim to achieve a right dimensioning of the main plant components to guarantee a certain inertia of the system and evaluate the system global performance (efficiency, time response), suitable simulations were carried out. Moreover, the interaction between the system components was investigated during transients, with particular attention to the inertial effect of gas turbine and heat exchangers also on the fuel cell, even if maintained at constant load. The developed dynamic allowed the analysis of the fully functioning of the hybrid system, together with the optimization of the plant components and its control logic at gas turbine part load. Then, the final aim of this study is to fill the void present in the technical literature concerning the analysis of dynamic interaction between components of SOFC/GT hybrid system.

[1]  Ashok Rao,et al.  Performance and costs of advanced sustainable central power plants with CCS and H2 co-production , 2012 .

[2]  Xin-Jian Zhu,et al.  Multi-loop control strategy of a solid oxide fuel cell and micro gas turbine hybrid system , 2011 .

[3]  G. Naterer,et al.  Thermodynamic modeling of a gas turbine cycle combined with a solid oxide fuel cell , 2008 .

[4]  Alberto Traverso,et al.  Liquid fuel utilization in SOFC hybrid systems , 2009 .

[5]  Fabian Mueller,et al.  Synergistic integration of a gas turbine and solid oxide fuel cell for improved transient capability , 2008 .

[6]  Jack Brouwer,et al.  Control design of an atmospheric solid oxide fuel cell/gas turbine hybrid system: Variable versus fixed speed gas turbine operation , 2006 .

[7]  Yiwu Weng,et al.  Performance study of a solid oxide fuel cell and gas turbine hybrid system designed for methane oper , 2011 .

[8]  S. Kakaç,et al.  A review of numerical modeling of solid oxide fuel cells , 2007 .

[9]  Tong Seop Kim,et al.  Performance evaluation of integrated gasification solid oxide fuel cell/gas turbine systems including carbon dioxide capture , 2011 .

[10]  Xin-jian Zhu,et al.  Thermal modeling of a solid oxide fuel cell and micro gas turbine hybrid power system based on modified LS-SVM , 2011 .

[11]  L. Barelli,et al.  Part load operation of SOFC/GT hybrid systems: Stationary analysis , 2012 .

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

[13]  Mohammad S. Alam,et al.  A dynamic model for a stand-alone PEM fuel cell power plant for residential applications , 2004 .

[14]  Shinji Kimijima,et al.  Performance analysis for the part-load operation of a solid oxide fuel cell–micro gas turbine hybrid system , 2008 .

[15]  Bjarne A. Foss,et al.  Modeling and control of a SOFC-GT-based autonomous power system , 2007 .

[16]  Xiongwen Zhang,et al.  A review of integration strategies for solid oxide fuel cells , 2010 .

[17]  Fabian Mueller,et al.  Dynamic modeling and evaluation of solid oxide fuel cell – combined heat and power system operating strategies , 2009 .

[18]  J. R. McDonald,et al.  An integrated SOFC plant dynamic model for power systems simulation , 2000 .

[19]  Zhenping Feng,et al.  Dynamic modeling of a hybrid system of the solid oxide fuel cell and recuperative gas turbine , 2006 .

[20]  Aristide F. Massardo,et al.  A hybrid system based on a personal turbine (5 kW) and a solid oxide fuel cell stack: A flexible and high efficiency energy concept for the distributed power market , 2002 .

[21]  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 .

[22]  Winston S. Burbank,et al.  Model of a novel pressurized solid oxide fuel cell gas turbine hybrid engine , 2009 .

[23]  Florian Leucht,et al.  Fuel cell system modeling for solid oxide fuel cell/gas turbine hybrid power plants, Part I: Modeling and simulation framework , 2011 .

[24]  Yixiang Shi,et al.  Multi-level simulation platform of SOFC–GT hybrid generation system , 2010 .

[25]  Diamantis P. Bakalis,et al.  Incorporating available micro gas turbines and fuel cell: Matching considerations and performance evaluation , 2013 .

[26]  Qi Huang,et al.  Power decoupling control of a solid oxide fuel cell and micro gas turbine hybrid power system , 2011 .

[27]  P. Chinda,et al.  The hybrid solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and gas turbine (GT) systems steady state modeling , 2012 .