System Simulation and Analysis of an LNG-Fueled SOFC System Using Additively Manufactured High Temperature Heat Exchangers

Jan Hollmann, Marco Fuchs, Carsten Spieker, Ulrich Gardemann, Michael Steffen, Xing Luo and Stephan Kabelac
Additional contact information
Jan Hollmann: Institute of Thermodynamics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany
Marco Fuchs: Institute of Thermodynamics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany
Carsten Spieker: Zentrum für BrennstoffzellenTechnik GmbH, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
Ulrich Gardemann: Zentrum für BrennstoffzellenTechnik GmbH, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
Michael Steffen: Zentrum für BrennstoffzellenTechnik GmbH, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
Xing Luo: Institute of Thermodynamics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany
Stephan Kabelac: Institute of Thermodynamics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-29

Abstract: A laboratory-scale solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system using liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a fuel is designed to be used as an energy converter on seagoing vessels (MultiSchIBZ project). The presented system design phase is supported by thermodynamic system simulation. As heat integration plays a crucial role with regard to fuel recirculation and endothermic pre-reforming, the heat exchanger and pre-reforming component models need to exhibit a high degree of accuracy throughout the entire operating range. Compact additively manufactured tube-bundle and plate-fin heat exchangers are designed to achieve high heat exchange efficiencies at low pressure losses. Their heat transfer correlations are derived from experimental component tests under operating conditions. A simulation study utilizing these heat exchanger characteristics is carried out for four configuration variants of pre-reforming and heat integration. Their system behaviour is analyzed with regard to the degree of pre-reforming and the outlet temperature of the fuel processing module. The combination of allothermal pre-reforming with additively manufactured plate-fin heat exchangers exhibits the best heat integration performance at nominal full load and yields a partial load capability to up to 60% electrical load at net electrical efficiencies of 58 to 60% (LHV).

Keywords: solid oxide fuel cell; fuel cell system design; maritime application; steam reforming; anode off-gas recirculation; additively manufactured heat exchangers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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