High temperature fuel cells, compared to low temperature ones, have the advantage of being fed by different fuels. When the former are connected to an anaerobic digester, the integrated system will be characterized both by energy and environmental sustainability. Through a process of anaerobic digestion, the organic fraction of urban solid waste can be treated to produce a gas, typically consisting of methane and carbon dioxide. The present work is focused on the possibility of achieving an integrated system by adopting solid oxide fuel cell systems fed by the biogas produced by an anaerobic digestion system. The design and dimensioning of the digester is conducted in relation to the technological and biological parameters of the reactor. Operating as Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems, the fuel cells performances are evaluated in terms of energy production, specifically in relation to the concentration of carbon dioxide in the feeding biogas. An application of the proposed integrated system has been carried out at the University of Calabria, where, after separation of the various kinds of waste through recycling, the daily organic waste from canteens is exploited. An energy audit is the starting point for data acquisition concerning the thermal and electrical requirements that can be satisfied by the proposed integrated energy system.
Technical Analysis of an Integrated Anaerobic Digester-Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System
Corigliano O.;FLORIO, Gaetano;FRAGIACOMO, Petronilla
2010-01-01
Abstract
High temperature fuel cells, compared to low temperature ones, have the advantage of being fed by different fuels. When the former are connected to an anaerobic digester, the integrated system will be characterized both by energy and environmental sustainability. Through a process of anaerobic digestion, the organic fraction of urban solid waste can be treated to produce a gas, typically consisting of methane and carbon dioxide. The present work is focused on the possibility of achieving an integrated system by adopting solid oxide fuel cell systems fed by the biogas produced by an anaerobic digestion system. The design and dimensioning of the digester is conducted in relation to the technological and biological parameters of the reactor. Operating as Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems, the fuel cells performances are evaluated in terms of energy production, specifically in relation to the concentration of carbon dioxide in the feeding biogas. An application of the proposed integrated system has been carried out at the University of Calabria, where, after separation of the various kinds of waste through recycling, the daily organic waste from canteens is exploited. An energy audit is the starting point for data acquisition concerning the thermal and electrical requirements that can be satisfied by the proposed integrated energy system.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
