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Analysis of a Simple Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System with Gas Dynamic in Afterburner and Connecting Pipes
Author(s) -
Chan S. H.,
Ho H. K.,
Ding O. L.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
fuel cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1615-6854
pISSN - 1615-6846
DOI - 10.1002/fuce.200400047
Subject(s) - solid oxide fuel cell , piping , pressure drop , stack (abstract data type) , mechanics , turbine , flow (mathematics) , power station , materials science , thermodynamics , nuclear engineering , mechanical engineering , chemistry , engineering , computer science , physics , electrode , anode , programming language
A simple solid oxide fuel cell plant is analysed based on the first law of thermodynamics approach. This system consists of a solid oxide fuel cell stack, a steam reformer, a mixer, a vaporiser, an afterburner, and two pre‐heaters. To simplify the study, the enthalpy at each node of the system is normalized with the lower heating value of the inlet fuel. A gas dynamic model for calculating the flow in the pipes connecting the system components is considered and can be used to estimate the flow velocity and friction‐induced pressure drop in the piping. Though the effect of a friction‐induced pressure drop can be significant in a sizeable integrated solid oxide fuel cell‐gas turbine power plant, it does not significantly affect the plant efficiency in this study, due to rather short piping used in this simple power system. A steady flow energy equation and the Rayleigh line flow assumption are applied to the afterburner to calculate the exit flow temperature, velocity and pressure.