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Development of a Highly Efficient SOFC Module Using Two‐stage Stacks and a Fuel Regeneration Process
Author(s) -
Nakamura K.,
Ide T.,
Taku S.,
Nakajima T.,
Shirai M.,
Dohkoh T.,
Kume T.,
Ikeda Y.,
Somekawa T.,
Kushi T.,
Ogasawara K.,
Fujita K.
Publication year - 2017
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.201600192
Subject(s) - anode , electricity generation , solid oxide fuel cell , process engineering , materials science , power density , nuclear engineering , power (physics) , environmental science , engineering , chemistry , electrode , physics , quantum mechanics
A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) module using two‐stage stacks and a fuel regeneration process between them was developed in this study for the first time, to the best of the authors' knowledge. Upon configuring the first‐stage and second‐stage stacks and a steam reformer between them in the SOFC module, a gross output power of DC 2.27 kW was generated with gross power generation efficiency of DC 69.2% (lower heating value (LHV)), at a total fuel utilization rate of 86.3%. This technology enables operation at a very high total fuel utilization rate even while operating the stacks at a moderate fuel utilization rate (below 70%). Considering an auxiliary device loss (6%) and inverter loss (5%), the net power generation efficiency is estimated to be AC 61.8% (LHV); hence, the module is considered to exhibit a high power generation efficiency. Further increases in the power generation efficiency could be realized in the future by removing the CO 2 from the anode off‐gas during the fuel regeneration process and/or operating the stacks at higher temperatures by decreasing heat leakage from the module.