TY - JOUR

T1 - Steady-State and Transient Operation of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Systems with Anode Off-Gas Recirculation within a Highly Constrained Operating Range

AU - Hollmann, Jan

AU - Kabelac, Stephan

N1 - Funding Information: The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Germany (BMVI, funding code 03B10605H) and the coordination of the MultiSchIBZ project by the National Organisation Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NOW GmbH), Germany.

PY - 2023/11/28

Y1 - 2023/11/28

N2 - Based on a prototype presented in a prior publication, this research investigates the operational characteristics of a methane-fueled solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system with anode off-gas recirculation (AOGR) for electrical energy supply on sea-going vessels. The proposed first-principle system model utilizes a spatially segmented SOFC stack and lumped balance of plant components validated on the component level to accurately depict the steady-state and transient operating behavior. Five operational limitations are chosen to highlight permissible operating conditions with regard to stack and pre-reformer degradation. Steady-state operating maps are presented, emphasizing efficient operating conditions at maximum stack fuel utilization and minimal permissible oxygen-to-carbon ratio. Exemplary transient load changes illustrate increasing system control complexity caused by gas flow delays due to the spatially distributed plant layout. Actuation strategies are presented and underline the need for a top-level model predictive system controller to assure a dynamic and efficient operation within the defined constraints.

AB - Based on a prototype presented in a prior publication, this research investigates the operational characteristics of a methane-fueled solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system with anode off-gas recirculation (AOGR) for electrical energy supply on sea-going vessels. The proposed first-principle system model utilizes a spatially segmented SOFC stack and lumped balance of plant components validated on the component level to accurately depict the steady-state and transient operating behavior. Five operational limitations are chosen to highlight permissible operating conditions with regard to stack and pre-reformer degradation. Steady-state operating maps are presented, emphasizing efficient operating conditions at maximum stack fuel utilization and minimal permissible oxygen-to-carbon ratio. Exemplary transient load changes illustrate increasing system control complexity caused by gas flow delays due to the spatially distributed plant layout. Actuation strategies are presented and underline the need for a top-level model predictive system controller to assure a dynamic and efficient operation within the defined constraints.

KW - anode off-gas recirculation

KW - dynamic system modeling

KW - solid oxide fuel cells

KW - system control

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85178949013&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3390/en16237827

DO - 10.3390/en16237827

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85178949013

VL - 16

JO - ENERGIES

JF - ENERGIES

SN - 1996-1073

IS - 23

M1 - 7827

ER -