A novel trigeneration system based on solid oxide fuel cell-gas turbine integrated with compressed air and thermal energy storage concepts: Energy, exergy, and life cycle approaches

This work assesses the environmental impacts of an industrial-scale Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) plant fed by sewage biogas locally available from a Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP). Three alternative scenarios for biogas exploitation have been investigated and real data from an existing integrated SOFC-WWTP have been retrieved: the first one (Scenario 1) is the current scenario, where biogas is exploited in a boiler for thermal-energy-only production, while the second one is related to the installation of an efficient SOFC-based cogeneration system (Scenario 2). A thermal energy conservation opportunity that foresees the use of a dynamic machine for sludge pre-thickening enhancement is also investigated as a third scenario (Scenario 3). The life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) has shown that producing a substantial share of electrical energy (around 25%) via biogas-fed SOFC cogeneration modules can reduce the environmental burden associated to WWTP operations in five out of the seven impact categories that have been analyzed in this work. A further reduction of impacts, particularly concerning global warming potential and primary energy demand, is possible by the decrease of the thermal request of the digester, thus making the system independent from natural gas. In both Scenarios 2 and 3, primary energy and CO2 emissions embodied in the manufacture and maintenance of the cogeneration system are neutralized by operational savings in less than one year.

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Application of a two-level rolling horizon optimization scheme to a solid-oxide fuel cell and compressed air energy storage plant for the optimal supply of zero-emissions peaking power

Computers & Chemical Engineering ◽

10.1016/j.compchemeng.2016.08.004 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 94 ◽

pp. 235-249 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jake Nease ◽

Nina Monteiro ◽

Thomas A. Adams

Keyword(s):

Energy Storage ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Solid Oxide Fuel Cell ◽

Solid Oxide ◽

Compressed Air ◽

Oxide Fuel ◽

Rolling Horizon ◽

Compressed Air Energy Storage ◽

Optimization Scheme ◽

Rolling Horizon Optimization

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Life Cycle Assessment of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Integrated With a Gas Turbine

10.1115/imece2000-1325 ◽

2000 ◽

Author(s):

Pernilla L. Olausson

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle Assessment ◽

Life Cycle ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Environmental Impact ◽

Solid Oxide Fuel Cell ◽

Gas Turbine ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Solid Oxide ◽

Oxide Fuel ◽

Operation Phase

Abstract The solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), alone and integrated with a gas turbine (SOFC/GT), is known for its high electrical efficiency and low emissions during operation. Before the SOFC/GT operation phase, the process life cycle also includes the extraction of ores, production of materials and components, and demolition, all these together with their intervening transports. By performing a life cycle assessment (LCA) for the SOFC/GT, the total environmental impact of the process is established and environmental “hot spots” are found. The results of the LCA of the SOFC/GT process showed that the most contributing phase to environmental impact, within all investigated impact categories during the life cycle, is the production of the SOFC-module. The pyrolysis processes of raw materials and the assemblage of the SOFC sub-components require an extended amount of energy. Of course, both these processes are carried out under laboratory circumstances, but even when the use of energy is reduced by 50%, this phase is more dominant than other power producing processes. Further effort has to be put into development of materials and manufacturing processes in order to reduce the resources used during the production phase of the SOFC.

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