This paper presents the electricity and hydrogen co-production concept, a methodology for the study of SOFC hydrogen co-production, and simulation results that address the impact of reformer placement in the cycle on system performance. The methodology is based on detailed thermodynamic and electrochemical analyses of the systems. A comparison is made between six specific cycle configurations, which use fuel cell heat to drive hydrogen production in a reformer using both external and internal reforming options. SOFC plant performance has been evaluated on the basis of methane fuel utilization efficiency and each component of the plant has been evaluated on the basis of second law efficiency. The analyses show that in all cases the exergy losses (irreversibilities) in the combustion chamber are the most significant losses in the cycle. Furthermore, for the same power output, the internal reformation option has the higher electrical efficiency and produces more hydrogen per unit of natural gas supplied. Electrical efficiency of the proposed cycles ranges from 41 to 44%, while overall efficiency (based on combined electricity and hydrogen products) ranges from 45 to 80%. The internal reforming case (steam-to-carbon ratio of 3.0) had the highest overall and electrical efficiency (80 and 45% respectively), but lower second law efficiency (61%), indicating potential for cycle improvements.
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e-mail: elisangelaleal@yahoo.com
e-mail: jb@nfcrc.uci.edu
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May 2006
This article was originally published in
Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology
Research Papers
A Thermodynamic Analysis of Electricity and Hydrogen Co-Production Using a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
Elisângela M. Leal,
Elisângela M. Leal
Combustion and Propulsion Laboratory,
e-mail: elisangelaleal@yahoo.com
National Institute for Space Research (INPE)
, Cachoeira Paulista, SP, Brazil 12630-970
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Jack Brouwer
Jack Brouwer
National Fuel Cell Research Center,
e-mail: jb@nfcrc.uci.edu
University of California
, Irvine CA 92697
Search for other works by this author on:
Elisângela M. Leal
Combustion and Propulsion Laboratory,
National Institute for Space Research (INPE)
, Cachoeira Paulista, SP, Brazil 12630-970e-mail: elisangelaleal@yahoo.com
Jack Brouwer
National Fuel Cell Research Center,
University of California
, Irvine CA 92697e-mail: jb@nfcrc.uci.edu
J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. May 2006, 3(2): 137-143 (7 pages)
Published Online: September 29, 2005
Article history
Received:
July 18, 2005
Revised:
September 29, 2005
Citation
Leal, E. M., and Brouwer, J. (September 29, 2005). "A Thermodynamic Analysis of Electricity and Hydrogen Co-Production Using a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell." ASME. J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. May 2006; 3(2): 137–143. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2173669
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