Thermodynamic and Economic Optimization of a MCFC Power Generation Unit Coupled With Hydrogen Production

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flavio Nicolin ◽  
Vittorio Verda
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Power Generation ◽  
Hydrogen Production ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Economic Optimization ◽  
Molten Carbonate ◽  
Pressure Swing

In this paper, a biogas fuelled power generation system is considered. The system is based on a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) stack integrated with a micro gas turbine for electricity generation, coupled with a pressure swing absorption system (PSA) for hydrogen production. The aim of this work is the optimal design of the system plant considering thermodynamic and economic objective functions. The procedure starts from system decomposition in two parts: the heat transfer network and the other components (in the following indicated as the “power components”). Design parameters are the pressure ratio, some operating temperatures and mass flow rates. For each set of the design parameters, the corresponding thermodynamic conditions of flows entering and exiting the power components are obtained. Then the heat flux recovered in the heat transfer network and the primary energy consumption are determined. Economic analysis is performed by considering function costs for the power components and a relation between the heat transfer network cost and the main energy requirements. The latter is obtained through analysis of a few heat transfer network configurations.

Thermodynamic and Thermoeconomic Analysis of a MCFC Power Generation Unit Coupled With Hydrogen Production

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vittorio Verda ◽  
Flavio Nicolin
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Hydrogen Production ◽  
Unit Cost ◽  
System Optimization ◽  
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Molten Carbonate ◽  
Generation System ◽  
Power Generation System

In this paper, a biogas fuelled power generation system is considered. The system is based on a molten carbonate fuel cell stack for electricity generation, coupled with a PSA for hydrogen production. The power generation system is about 500 kW and consists of a fuel cell integrated with a micro gas turbine and a steam reformer. A design model of the system is presented. A thermoeconomic analysis is performed with the objective of highlighting the critical processes in terms of low efficiencies or high cost of components and to improve the initial design. The main design parameters affecting the critical process are identified and a system optimization is performed in order to minimize the unit cost of electricity produced by the system. The analysis presented here is the first result of a three year project (BIOH2POWER), which aims to produce and test the system.

Parametric Analysis of Hybrid MCFC Micro Gas Turbine System

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongliang Hao ◽  
Huisheng Zhang ◽  
Shilie Weng ◽  
Ming Su
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Power System ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Molten Carbonate ◽  
Hybrid Power System ◽  
Micro Gas Turbine ◽  
Hybrid Power

Fuel cells have been revealed to be a very attractive power generation system, promising highly efficient electricity generation and very low environmental impact. The integration of micro turbines and high-temperature fuel cells has been proposed in recent years as an extremely efficient solution for power generation. A molten carbonate fuel cell / micro gas turbine (MCFC/MGT) hybrid power system has theoretically demonstrated that it can achieve higher thermal efficiency than other conventional power generation systems. To understand operation characteristics of the MCFC/MGT hybrid power system, it is essential to analyze influence of operating and design parameters on its performance. Based on an existing 50KW MCFC stack, a steady-state thermodynamic model for MCFC/MGT hybrid power system is developed on the IPSEpro simulation platform and applied to a performance analysis. The characteristics under off-design and design condition for hybrid power system were also analyzed.

Performance Evaluation of a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell/Micro Gas Turbine Hybrid System With Oxy-Combustion Carbon Capture

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji Ho Ahn ◽  
Tong Seop Kim
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Hybrid System ◽  
Carbon Capture ◽  
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Molten Carbonate ◽  
Micro Gas Turbine ◽  
Carbonate Fuel Cell

Owing to the increasing consumption of fossil fuels and emission of greenhouse gases, interests in highly efficient and low carbon emitting power systems are growing fast. Several research groups have been suggesting advanced systems based on fuel cells and have also been applying carbon capture and storage technology to satisfy the demand for clean energy. In this study, the performance of a hybrid system, which is a combination of a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) with oxy-combustion carbon capture and an indirectly fired micro gas turbine (MGT) was predicted. A 2.5MW MCFC system that is used in commercial applications was used as the reference system so that the results of the study could be applicable to practical situations. The ambient pressure type hybrid system was modeled by referring to the design parameters of an MGT that is currently being developed. A semi-closed type design characterized by flow recirculation was adopted for this hybrid system. A part of the recirculating gas is converted into liquefied carbon dioxide and captured for storage at the carbon separation unit. Almost 100% carbon dioxide capture is possible with this system. In these systems, the output power of the fuel cell is larger than in the normal hybrid system without carbon capture because the partial pressure of carbon dioxide increases. The increased cell power partially compensates for the power loss due to the carbon capture and MGT power reduction. The dependence of net system efficiency of the oxy-hybrid on compressor pressure ratio is marginal, especially beyond an optimal value.

Performance Evaluation of a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell/Micro Gas Turbine Hybrid System With Oxy-Combustion Carbon Capture

2017 ◽  
Vol 140 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji Ho Ahn ◽  
Tong Seop Kim
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Hybrid System ◽  
Carbon Capture ◽  
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Molten Carbonate ◽  
Micro Gas Turbine ◽  
Carbonate Fuel Cell

Owing to the increasing consumption of fossil fuels and emission of greenhouse gases, interests in highly efficient and low carbon emitting power systems are growing fast. Several research groups have been suggesting advanced systems based on fuel cells and have also been applying carbon capture and storage technology to satisfy the demand for clean energy. In this study, the performance of a hybrid system, which is a combination of a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) with oxy-combustion carbon capture and an indirectly fired micro gas turbine (MGT), was predicted. A 2.5 MW MCFC system that is used in commercial applications was used as the reference system so that the results of the study could be applied to practical situations. The ambient pressure type hybrid system was modeled by referring to the design parameters of an MGT that is currently being developed. A semi-closed type design characterized by flow recirculation was adopted for this hybrid system. A part of the recirculating gas is converted into liquefied carbon dioxide and captured for storage at the carbon separation unit (CSU). Almost 100% carbon dioxide capture is possible with this system. In these systems, the output power of the fuel cell is larger than in the normal hybrid system without carbon capture because the partial pressure of carbon dioxide increases. The increased cell power partially compensates for the power loss due to the carbon capture and MGT power reduction. The dependence of net system efficiency of the oxy-hybrid on compressor pressure ratio is marginal, especially beyond an optimal value.

scholarly journals Influence of the main operating parameters on the DRPSA process design based on the equilibrium theory

Adsorption ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ester Rossi ◽  
Giuseppe Storti ◽  
Renato Rota
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Swing Adsorption ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Complete Separation ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Equilibrium Theory ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Reflux Ratio ◽  
Gaseous Mixtures ◽  
Pressure Swing

Abstract Among the adsorption-based separation processes for gaseous mixtures, those exploiting pressure variations, so-called Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) processes, are the most popular. In this work, we focus on the specific PSA configuration known as Dual Reflux-Pressure Swing Adsorption (DR-PSA) given its ability to achieve sharp separations. In the case of binary mixtures, an analytical approach based on Equilibrium Theory has been proposed to identify the operating conditions for complete separation under the assumption of linear isotherms. This same approach is not available when the separation is not complete. Accordingly, in this work we study the features of non-complete separations by solving numerically a general DR-PSA model with parameter values suitable to approach equilibrium conditions (no mass transport resistances, no axial mixing, isothermal conditions and no pressure drop), thus reproducing the analytical solution when complete separations are examined. Even for non-complete separations, triangularly shaped regions at constant purity can be identified on a plane whose axes correspond to suitable design parameters. Moreover, we found a general indication on how to select the lateral feed injection position to limit the loss in product purities when complete separation is not established, whatever is the composition of the feeding mixture. Finally, a sensitivity analysis with respect to pressure ratio, light reflux ratio and heavy product flowrate is proposed in order to assess how to recover product purities according to the specific degrees of freedom of a DR-PSA apparatus.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document