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Modeling Analysis of Different Renewable Fuels in an Anode Supported SOFC

Andersson, Martin LU ; Paradis, Hedvig LU ; Yuan, Jinliang LU and Sundén, Bengt LU (2011) In Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology 8(3).
Abstract
Background. It is expected that fuel cells will play a significant role in a future sustainable energy system, due to their high energy efficiency and possibility to use renewable fuels. Fuels, such as biogas, can be produced locally close to the customers. The improvement for fuel cells during the last years has been fast, but the technology is still in the early phases of development, however the potential is enormous.



Method of approach. A CFD approach (COMSOL Multiphysics) is employed to investigate effects of different fuels such as biogas, pre-reformed methanol, ethanol and natural gas. The effects of fuel inlet composition and temperature are studied in terms of temperature distribution, molar fraction... (More)
Background. It is expected that fuel cells will play a significant role in a future sustainable energy system, due to their high energy efficiency and possibility to use renewable fuels. Fuels, such as biogas, can be produced locally close to the customers. The improvement for fuel cells during the last years has been fast, but the technology is still in the early phases of development, however the potential is enormous.



Method of approach. A CFD approach (COMSOL Multiphysics) is employed to investigate effects of different fuels such as biogas, pre-reformed methanol, ethanol and natural gas. The effects of fuel inlet composition and temperature are studied in terms of temperature distribution, molar fraction distribution and reforming reaction rates within a singe cell for an intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFC). The developed model is based on the governing equations of heat-, mass- and momentum transport, which are solved together with global reforming reaction kinetics.



Results. The result shows that the heat generation within the cell depends mainly on the initial fuel composition and the inlet temperature. This means that the choice of internal- or external reforming has a significant effect on the operating performance.



Conclusions. The anode structure and catalytic characteristic have a major impact on the reforming reaction rates and also on the cell performance. It is concluded that biogas, methanol and ethanol are suitable fuels in a SOFC system, while more complex fuels need to be externally reformed. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Biogas, Methanol, COMSOL Multiphysics., Reforming, Ethanol, SOFC, Modeling, Natural gas
in
Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology
volume
8
issue
3
publisher
American Society Of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
external identifiers
  • wos:000287882300013
  • scopus:79953285630
ISSN
1551-6989
DOI
10.1115/1.4002618
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0f7cf1cd-32d6-4b08-bf19-3dd397a8390c (old id 1686522)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 11:40:07
date last changed
2022-01-29 22:14:53
@article{0f7cf1cd-32d6-4b08-bf19-3dd397a8390c,
  abstract     = {{Background. It is expected that fuel cells will play a significant role in a future sustainable energy system, due to their high energy efficiency and possibility to use renewable fuels. Fuels, such as biogas, can be produced locally close to the customers. The improvement for fuel cells during the last years has been fast, but the technology is still in the early phases of development, however the potential is enormous.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Method of approach. A CFD approach (COMSOL Multiphysics) is employed to investigate effects of different fuels such as biogas, pre-reformed methanol, ethanol and natural gas. The effects of fuel inlet composition and temperature are studied in terms of temperature distribution, molar fraction distribution and reforming reaction rates within a singe cell for an intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFC). The developed model is based on the governing equations of heat-, mass- and momentum transport, which are solved together with global reforming reaction kinetics.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Results. The result shows that the heat generation within the cell depends mainly on the initial fuel composition and the inlet temperature. This means that the choice of internal- or external reforming has a significant effect on the operating performance. <br/><br>
<br/><br>
Conclusions. The anode structure and catalytic characteristic have a major impact on the reforming reaction rates and also on the cell performance. It is concluded that biogas, methanol and ethanol are suitable fuels in a SOFC system, while more complex fuels need to be externally reformed.}},
  author       = {{Andersson, Martin and Paradis, Hedvig and Yuan, Jinliang and Sundén, Bengt}},
  issn         = {{1551-6989}},
  keywords     = {{Biogas; Methanol; COMSOL Multiphysics.; Reforming; Ethanol; SOFC; Modeling; Natural gas}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  publisher    = {{American Society Of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)}},
  series       = {{Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology}},
  title        = {{Modeling Analysis of Different Renewable Fuels in an Anode Supported SOFC}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/5827325/4587090.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1115/1.4002618}},
  volume       = {{8}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}