Study on the Entropy Generation Distribution Characteristics of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell System under Different CO 2 Enrichment Conditions

Jing Bian, Liqiang Duan, Jing Lei and Yongping Yang
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Jing Bian: School of Energy, Power and Mechanical Engineering, National Thermal Power Engineering & Technology Research Center, Key Laboratory of Power Station Energy Transfer Conversion and System (North China Electric Power University), Ministry of Education, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
Liqiang Duan: School of Energy, Power and Mechanical Engineering, National Thermal Power Engineering & Technology Research Center, Key Laboratory of Power Station Energy Transfer Conversion and System (North China Electric Power University), Ministry of Education, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
Jing Lei: School of Energy, Power and Mechanical Engineering, National Thermal Power Engineering & Technology Research Center, Key Laboratory of Power Station Energy Transfer Conversion and System (North China Electric Power University), Ministry of Education, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
Yongping Yang: School of Energy, Power and Mechanical Engineering, National Thermal Power Engineering & Technology Research Center, Key Laboratory of Power Station Energy Transfer Conversion and System (North China Electric Power University), Ministry of Education, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-18

Abstract: The efficient and clean use of fuel is very important for the sustainable development of energy. In this article, a numerical study of molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) unit is carried out, and the source, distribution, and extent of six irreversible losses (fluid friction loss, mass transfer loss, ohmic loss, activation loss, heat transfer loss, the coupling loss between heat and mass transfer) are described and quantified. The effects of the operation temperature, current density, CO 2 concentration, and cathode CO 2 utilization rate on the exergy destruction and exergy efficiency during the power generation process are investigated. The results show that the main source of entropy generation in MCFC is the potential difference, which affects the ohmic and activation entropy generation, especially when the CO 2 concentration is very low. The second is the temperature gradient, which causes the entropy production of the heat transfer. With the rise of the CO 2 concentration at the cathode inlet, the exergy destruction reduces and the exergy efficiency increases. With the rise of the cathode CO 2 utilization rate, the exergy destruction rises and the exergy efficiency reduces. Therefore, analyzing the irreversible process transfer mechanism in MCFC can provide the theoretical basis for its thermal performance optimization and structure design.

Keywords: molten carbonate fuel cell; entropy generation; exergy destruction; CO 2 capture (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: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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