Feasibility of the integration of a molten carbonate fuel-cell system and an integrated gasification combined cycle

This paper presents a framework for the system integration and optimization of a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) working under stationary conditions using process integration. Here, the analysis is focused on two systems in terms of the efficiency and process requirements: (i) an MCFC system alone and (ii) an MCFC system integrated with the steam turbine cycle, now onwards referred to as fuel cell combined cycle system for electric power generation. In the first system, a steady state direct internal reforming MCFC system is being simulated using desulphurized natural gas. A heat exchanger network is developed using process integration so that a minimum amount of external thermal energy is provided to the fuel cell system for electric power generation. In the second analysis, a steam turbine system is added to the first (fuel cell) one to form a fuel cell combined cycle system. The procedure for developing a network of heat exchangers and proper integration of the steam turbine system with an optimized minimum temperature difference is discussed. The results of the study elucidate the advantages of properly designed fuel cell combined cycle system to reach power demand with 17% higher efficiency as compared with the system without a combined cycle.

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Study on a new IGCC (Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle) system with CO2 capture by integrating MCFC (Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell)

Energy ◽

10.1016/j.energy.2015.05.011 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 87 ◽

pp. 490-503 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Liqiang Duan ◽

Siyu Sun ◽

Long Yue ◽

Wanjun Qu ◽

Yongping Yang

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Co2 Capture ◽

Combined Cycle ◽

Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell ◽

Molten Carbonate ◽

Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle ◽

Cycle System ◽

Integrated Gasification ◽

Carbonate Fuel Cell

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Coal Cell

Mechanical Engineering ◽

10.1115/1.2003-dec-5 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 125 (12) ◽

pp. 42-44 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jeffrey Winters

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cells ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Power Plants ◽

The United States ◽

Combined Cycle ◽

Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell ◽

Molten Carbonate ◽

Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle ◽

Integrated Gasification ◽

Carbonate Fuel Cell

This article focuses on coal mining that is incredibly disruptive, and coal is heavy and bulky, involving rumbling freight trains to transport it. The idea that fuel cells are every bit as clean as coal is dirty is just as widespread. Fuel cells, after all, take hydrogen and oxygen, and combine those elements to make electricity and water. The program, called the Clean Coal Technology Program, was, in part, an effort to promote commercial-scale integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) coal power plants in the United States. Molten carbonate fuel cell stacks routinely weigh in at 250 kW. For the Wabash River demonstration, eight stacks will be combined for 2 MW. It will be the largest carbonate fuel cell power plant operating on coal in the world. FuelCell Energy has been planning for this sort of project for more than 20 years.

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