A molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) can assume several geometric configurations, being in equicurrent flow, countercurrent flow and in cross-flow. The equicurrent configuration, at the same current density, has an electrical efficiency smaller than the counter current one, but the anodic exhaust gases are richer in carbon monoxide and hydrogen (CO and H2), and have such a thermal energy that it can be used, more effectively, for cogenerative purposes. On the contrary, the counter-current configuration has a higher electrical efficiency, but a lower recoverable thermal energy. In this paper an energy system with an MCFC fed by syngas will be analyzed. In this system the anodic exhaust gases, containing CO and H2, after having been, preventively, burned in a thermal oxidator, can supply all their thermal energy for cogenerative purposes or can be partially recirculated to the cathode, after a separation of carbon dioxide from the rest of the gases, in the internal or external carbon dioxide supply cases. In the case of external supply the CO2 , necessary to the cathode, is supplied by exhaust gases of a traditional thermal system such as, for example, a turbogas, while in the case of internal supply the said CO2 is supplied by the part of anodic recirculated exhaust gases. In this paper a mono-dimensional simulation model of an MCFC fed by syngas is formulated and implemented, as a function of steam to carbon for the anodic feeding mixture and the main parameters of the cell as operative temperature and pressure. The simulations will have, as objective, a comparison between two of the three named geometric configurations. Specifically, the system with MCFC in the two configurations in equicurrent and counter-current flows, in cogenerative arrangement, are analyzed in an energetic context. This energy analysis is carried out by means of the main energetic parameters characterizing the said system, such as electrical and thermal efficiency.
Thermo-Electrical Characterization of a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell in Cogenerative Arrangement
FRAGIACOMO, Petronilla;DE LORENZO G.
2007-01-01
Abstract
A molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) can assume several geometric configurations, being in equicurrent flow, countercurrent flow and in cross-flow. The equicurrent configuration, at the same current density, has an electrical efficiency smaller than the counter current one, but the anodic exhaust gases are richer in carbon monoxide and hydrogen (CO and H2), and have such a thermal energy that it can be used, more effectively, for cogenerative purposes. On the contrary, the counter-current configuration has a higher electrical efficiency, but a lower recoverable thermal energy. In this paper an energy system with an MCFC fed by syngas will be analyzed. In this system the anodic exhaust gases, containing CO and H2, after having been, preventively, burned in a thermal oxidator, can supply all their thermal energy for cogenerative purposes or can be partially recirculated to the cathode, after a separation of carbon dioxide from the rest of the gases, in the internal or external carbon dioxide supply cases. In the case of external supply the CO2 , necessary to the cathode, is supplied by exhaust gases of a traditional thermal system such as, for example, a turbogas, while in the case of internal supply the said CO2 is supplied by the part of anodic recirculated exhaust gases. In this paper a mono-dimensional simulation model of an MCFC fed by syngas is formulated and implemented, as a function of steam to carbon for the anodic feeding mixture and the main parameters of the cell as operative temperature and pressure. The simulations will have, as objective, a comparison between two of the three named geometric configurations. Specifically, the system with MCFC in the two configurations in equicurrent and counter-current flows, in cogenerative arrangement, are analyzed in an energetic context. This energy analysis is carried out by means of the main energetic parameters characterizing the said system, such as electrical and thermal efficiency.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
