Robust Design of a Fuel Cell - Turbocharger Hybrid System

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Giugno ◽  
Luca Mantelli ◽  
Alberto Traverso
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Hybrid System ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Pareto Front ◽  
Response Surfaces ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Steady State Model ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Main Operating

Abstract Pressurized solid oxide fuel cell systems are a particularly attractive conversion technology for their high electric efficiency, potential for cogeneration applications, low carbon emissions and high performance at part-load. In this work an innovative biofueled hybrid system is considered, where the fuel cell stack is pressurized with a turbocharger, resulting in a system with improved cost effectiveness than a microturbinebased one at small scales. In a previous work, a detailed steady state model of the system, featuring components validated with industrial data, was developed to simulate the system and analyze its behavior in different conditions. The results obtained from this model were used to create response surfaces capable of evaluating the impact of the main operating parameters (fuel cell area, stack current density and recuperator surface) on the performance and the profitability of the plant considering system uncertainties. In this paper, similar but extended response surfaces will be used to perform a multi-objective optimization of the system considering the capital costs of the plant and the net power produced as objectives (turbocharger is fixed in geometry). The impact of the energy market scenario on the optimal design of such a system will be investigated considering its installation in three different countries. Finally, the Pareto front produced by optimization will be used to evaluate the robustness of the top performance solutions.

Robust Design of a Fuel Cell-Turbocharger Hybrid System

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Giugno ◽  
Luca Mantelli ◽  
Alberto Traverso
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Hybrid System ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Pareto Front ◽  
Response Surfaces ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Steady State Model ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Main Operating

Abstract Pressurized solid oxide fuel cell systems are a particularly attractive conversion technology for their high electric efficiency, potential for cogeneration applications, low carbon emissions and high performance at part-load. In this work an innovative biofueled hybrid system is considered, where the fuel cell stack is pressurized with a turbocharger, resulting in a system with improved cost effectiveness than a microturbine-based one at small scales. In a previous work, a detailed steady state model of the system, featuring components validated with industrial data, was developed to simulate the system and analyze its behavior in different conditions. The results obtained from this model were used to create response surfaces capable of evaluating the impact of the main operating parameters (fuel cell area, stack current density and recuperator surface) on the performance and the profitability of the plant considering system uncertainties. In this paper, similar but extended response surfaces will be used to perform a multi-objective optimization of the system considering the capital costs of the plant and the net power produced as objectives (turbocharger is fixed in geometry). The impact of the energy market scenario on the optimal design of such a system will be investigated considering its installation in three different countries. Finally, the Pareto front produced by optimization will be used to evaluate the robustness of the top performance solutions.

scholarly journals Robust Design of a Hybrid Energy System

2019 ◽  
Vol 113 ◽  
pp. 02008
Author(s):  
Andrea Giugno ◽  
Luca Mantelli ◽  
Alessandra Cuneo ◽  
Alberto Traverso
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Robust Design ◽  
Hybrid System ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Hybrid Energy ◽  
Energy Field ◽  
The Impact

Nowadays the research in energy field is focused on conversion technologies which could achieve higher efficiencies and lower environmental impact. Among these, fuel cells are considered an extremely promising technology and pressurized solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems are particularly attractive for their high electric efficiency, potential for cogeneration applications, low carbon emissions and high performance at part-load. This paper aims to perform a robust design of an innovative turbocharged hybrid system model, featuring components validated with industrial data, where a turbocharger is used to pressurize the fuel cell, promising better cost effectiveness than a microturbine-based hybrid system, at small scales. This study will evaluate the impact of the main operating parameters (fuel cell area, stack current density and recuperator surface) on the plant performance, considering uncertainties in the system and creating a response surface of the model to perform the study. Finally, a study of the operating costs of such plant is performed to evaluate its profitability in the Italian market scenario.

Uncertainty Quantification Analysis of a Pressurized Fuel Cell Hybrid System

2019 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Cuneo ◽  
Andrea Giugno ◽  
Luca Mantelli ◽  
Alberto Traverso
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Uncertainty Quantification ◽  
Hybrid System ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Computational Effort ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Fuel Gas ◽  
Pressure Losses ◽  
Quantification Analysis ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Pressurized solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems are a sustainable opportunity for improvement over conventional systems, featuring high electric efficiency, potential for cogeneration applications, and low carbon emissions. Such systems are usually analyzed in deterministic conditions. However, it is widely demonstrated that such systems are affected significantly by uncertainties, both in component performance and operating parameters. This paper aims to study the propagation of uncertainties related both to the fuel cell (ohmic losses, anode ejector diameter, and fuel gas composition) and the gas turbine cycle characteristics (compressor and turbine efficiencies, recuperator pressure losses). The analysis is carried out on an innovative hybrid system layout, where a turbocharger is used to pressurize the fuel cell, promising better cost effectiveness then a microturbine-based hybrid system, at small scales. Due to plant complexity and high computational effort required by uncertainty quantification methodologies, a response surface (RS) is created. To evaluate the impact of the aforementioned uncertainties on the relevant system outputs, such as overall efficiency and net electrical power, the Monte Carlo method is applied to the RS. Particular attention is focused on the impact of uncertainties on the opening of the turbocharger wastegate valve, which is aimed at satisfying the fuel cell constraints at each operating condition.

Uncertainty Quantification Analysis of a Pressurised Fuel Cell Hybrid System

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Cuneo ◽  
Andrea Giugno ◽  
Luca Mantelli ◽  
Alberto Traverso
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Uncertainty Quantification ◽  
Response Surface ◽  
Hybrid System ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Computational Effort ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Fuel Gas ◽  
Pressure Losses ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Pressurised solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems are a sustainable opportunity for improvement over conventional systems, featuring high electric efficiency, potential for cogeneration applications and low carbon emissions. Such systems are usually analyzed in deterministic conditions. However, it is widely demonstrated that such systems are affected significantly by uncertainties, both in component performance and operating parameters. This paper aims to study the propagation of uncertainties related both to the fuel cell (ohmic losses, anode ejector diameter and fuel gas composition) and the gas turbine cycle characteristics (compressor and turbine efficiencies, recuperator pressure losses). The analysis is carried out on an innovative hybrid system layout, where a turbocharger is used to pressurise the fuel cell, promising better cost effectiveness then a microturbine-based hybrid system, at small scales. Due to plant complexity and high computational effort required by uncertainty quantification methodologies, a response surface is created. To evaluate the impact of the aforementioned uncertainties on the relevant system outputs, such as overall efficiency and net electrical power, the Monte Carlo method is applied to the response surface. Particular attention is focused on the impact of uncertainties on the opening of the turbocharger wastegate valve, which is aimed at satisfying the fuel cell constraints at each operating condition.

scholarly journals Comparative Analysis of Hybrid Desalination Technologies Powered by SMR

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 5006
Author(s):  
Seyed Hadi Ghazaie ◽  
Khashayar Sadeghi ◽  
Ekaterina Sokolova ◽  
Evgeniy Fedorovich ◽  
Amirsaeed Shirani
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Energy Agency ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
Desalination Technology ◽  
Desalination Plants ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

Small modular reactors (SMRs) represent a key area of interest to nuclear industry developers, which have been making significant progress during the past few years. Generally, these reactors are promising owing to their improved safety due to passive systems, enhanced containment efficiency, and fewer capital costs in comparison to traditional nuclear reactors. An important advantage of SMRs is their adaptability in being coupled to other energy-consuming systems, such as desalination plants (DPs) to create a cogeneration plant. Considering the serious challenges regarding the freshwater shortage in many regions of the world and the necessity of using low-carbon energy sources, it is advantageous to use SMR for supplying the required heat and electricity of DPs. As a high-performance desalination technology, the hybrid desalination (HD) systems can be exploited, which retain the advantages of both thermal and membrane desalination methods. In this study, several SMR coupling schemes to HD plants have been suggested. In performing a thermodynamic analysis of integrated SMR-DP, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Desalination Thermodynamic Optimization Program (DE-TOP) has been utilized. It has been found that the use of relatively hot water from the SMR condenser leads to about 6.5 to 7.5% of total desalination cost reduction, where the produced electricity and hot steam extracted from low-pressure turbine were used to drive the HD system.

Heat Exchangers for Fuel Cell and Hybrid System Applications

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Magistri ◽  
A. Traverso ◽  
A. F. Massardo ◽  
R. K. Shah
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Hybrid System ◽  
Heat Exchangers ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Molten Carbonate ◽  
The Impact

The fuel cell system and fuel cell gas turbine hybrid system represent an emerging technology for power generation because of its higher energy conversion efficiency, extremely low environmental pollution and potential use of some renewable energy sources as fuels. Depending upon the type and size of applications, from domestic heating to industrial cogeneration, there are different types of fuel cell technologies to be employed. The fuel cells considered in this paper are the proton exchange membrane (PEMFC), the molten carbonate (MCFC) and the solid oxide (SOFC) fuel cells. In all these systems, heat exchangers play an important and critical role in the thermal management of the fuel cell itself and the boundary components, such as the fuel reformer (when methane or natural gas is used), the air preheating and the fuel cell cooling. In this paper, the impact of heat exchangers on the performance of PEMFC systems and SOFC-MCFC gas turbine hybrid systems is investigated. Several options in terms of cycle layout and heat exchanger technology are discussed from the on-design, off-design and control perspectives. A general overview of the main issues related to heat exchangers performance, cost and durability is presented and the most promising configurations identified.

Ambient Temperature Impact on Pressurized SOFC Hybrid Systems

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Larosa ◽  
Alberto Traverso ◽  
Valentina Zaccaria
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Hybrid System ◽  
Mass Flow ◽  
Electrical Current ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Cell Temperature ◽  
Utilization Factor ◽  
The Impact

In this paper advanced control strategies based on Model Predictive Control (MPC) method are compared against a traditional PID controller in a Gas Turbine Pressurized SOFC hybrid system. A model of the integrated mGT-SOFC hybrid system has been developed to analyze the impact of ambient temperature changes on system performance and dynamic behaviour. Four different MIMO controllers (multi input multi output) based on a linearized system model have been implemented in order to control fuel cell temperature and power with different ambient temperatures. Fuel cell temperature is regulated by manipulating the cell by-pass mass flow, while power is regulated by changing the fuel cell electrical current and fuel mass flow (the fuel utilization factor is kept constant). Load following simulations have been carried out as follows: the same load ramp from 100% to 80% of fuel cell power and back has been set and studied under three different ambient conditions, 263K, 288K and 313K (−10°C, 15°C and 40°C). MPC demonstrated superior performance over the two distributed PID controls, thanks to the better setpoint tracking on the cell temperature, which is particularly evident when the ambient temperature deviates from the nominal condition. This is mainly explained by the capability of MPC in including the effects of non-linearities of the real system.

Impact of Fuel Cell Degradation on the Efficiency of the Hybrid System High Temperature Fuel Cell/Turbine and Ways to Mitigate the Power Loss

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgia C. Karvountzi ◽  
Paul F. Duby
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Hybrid System ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Power Loss ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
System Efficiency ◽  
Degradation Rates ◽  
Efficiency Cost ◽  
Subsystem Design ◽  
The Impact

The performance and life of a fuel cell is strongly affected by the voltage degradation that results from increase of overpotentials and loss of electrolyte conductivity overtime. The lack of valid field data makes degradation difficult to quantify. The few degradation rates reported in the literature so far vary from 0.3% to 0.6% per 1000 hours of operation for the MCFC, and 0.1% to 0.25% per 1000 hours of operation for the SOFC. We performed a parametric analysis to investigate the impact of fuel cell degradation on the overall hybrid system efficiency. We considered fuel cell power loss due to cumulative degradation varying from 1% up to 20% in two different degradation scenarios for each one of MCFC and SOFC. We considered several ways to recover part or all of the lost system efficiency. An optimization of the fuel cell subsystem design as well as the timing of replacement of stacks or cells that operate poorly, leads to complete efficiency recovery. The use of a stand-by gas turbine is an alternative way to produce the power lost by the fuel cell subsystem. However gas turbines are less efficient than the fuel cells and the recovery of the lost power carries a penalty in system efficiency. Cost considerations have also been taken into account. Stack replacement maintains the system high efficiency but leads to higher system capital cost, because the fuel cell stack is the most expensive component of the system. The use of stand-by gas turbines reduces initial costs but operating costs increase because of the lower system efficiency.

Evaluation of Cathodic Air Flow Transients in a Hybrid System Using Hardware Simulation

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Tucker ◽  
Larry Lawson ◽  
Thomas P. Smith ◽  
Comas Haynes
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Hybrid System ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Fuel Cell Stack ◽  
Hybrid Power ◽  
Hot Air ◽  
Bypass Valve ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Flow Transients

Effective control of cathode airflow in a direct fired solid oxide fuel cell gas turbine (SOFC/GT) hybrid power system is critical to thermal management of a fuel cell stack. Hybrid fuel cell turbine designs often incorporate the use of a valved hot air bypass in parallel with the cathode flow to divert a portion of the compressor effluent around the fuel cell system. The primary objective of this valve in the early development of hybrid power systems was to facilitate system startup. From a system controls perspective, the hot air bypass offers the means to balance and manipulate the level of airflow supplied to the fuel cell stack at a minimal efficiency penalty. Manipulation of this valve has a significant impact on stack performance and reliability, as well as cathodic exhaust airflow conditions. Since the turbine is directly coupled to the fuel cell subsystem through the cathode airflow, non-linear effects are propagated through the system components in response to any hot air bypass valve change. The effect of cathode flow transients on hybrid system performance has been evaluated though the manipulation of a hot air bypass valve on a hardware-based simulation facility designed and built by the U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). A brief overview of this experimental facility is provided and has been described in more detail previously. Open loop experiments were conducted using the facility, where a perturbation was made to the hot air bypass flow and turbine speed was allowed to change in response. The impact of the transients to both fuel cell and turbine performance are discussed.

scholarly journals The Exergy Costs of Electrical Power, Cooling, and Waste Heat from a Hybrid System Based on a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell and an Absorption Refrigeration System

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 3476 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Rangel-Hernandez ◽  
C. Torres ◽  
A. Zaleta-Aguilar ◽  
M. Gomez-Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Solid Oxide Fuel Cell ◽  
Hybrid System ◽  
Waste Heat ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Solid Oxide ◽  
Oxide Fuel ◽  
Absorption Refrigeration ◽  
Absorption Refrigeration System ◽  
The Impact

This paper applies the Exergy Cost Theory (ECT) to a hybrid system based on a 500 kWe solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack and on a vapor-absorption refrigeration (VAR) system. To achieve this, a model comprised of chemical, electrochemical, thermodynamic, and thermoeconomic equations is developed using the software, Engineering Equation Solver (EES). The model is validated against previous works. This approach enables the unit exergy costs (electricity, cooling, and residues) to be computed by a productive structure defined by components, resources, products, and residues. Most importantly, it allows us to know the contribution of the environment and of the residues to the unit exergy cost of the product of the components. Finally, the simulation of different scenarios makes it possible to analyze the impact of stack current density, fuel use, temperature across the stack, and anode gas recirculation on the unit exergy costs of electrical power, cooling, and residues.

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