Thermochemical Performance Assessment of a Fuel Cell-Based Energy Conversion System

Abstract

This study presents a mechanistic computational approach to model and optimize the protonic ceramic fuel cell (PCFC) performance. A planar single protonic ceramic fuel cell (PCFC) consisting of a dense protonic conducting electrolyte and mixed proton-electron conducting electrodes is used for this model. Analysis of the system`s electrochemistry, thermodynamics, voltage losses, charge transport, mass transport and heat control are conducted. The model is validated against experimental data reported in the literature, where the model results agreed well with the experimental data, which is a good evidence for the model validity. The model`s potentiality to investigate almost most of the PCFC design, microstructure and operation parameters made it flexible enough to study the system in various aspects. Impact of temperature, input pressure and excess air ratio are studied extensively. The effects of the pore size, porosity and diversity in pore forming shapes on the PCFC performance are investigated. Moreover, a performance comparison using different ranges of fuels is presented. Additionally, the analysis of doping nanoparticles in the dense ceramic electrolyte; which can have a dramatic effect on the ionic conductivity, is also introduced in the current study. A real case study is performed by substituting a natural gas fired gas turbine with a PCFC package of the same capacity, where a comparison between the main parameters of each system is presented; identifying the commercialization of fuel cells and their actual influence in the energy market. Fine modelling is our way to enhance the performance of fuel cells to help meet technical and commercial requirements of the market.