Title: Consumption analysis of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Authors: Yongping Yang, Qin Yan, Rongrong Zhai, Ershu Xu

Addresses: School of Energy and Power Engineering, Key Laboratory of Condition Monitoring and Control for Power Plant Equipment, MOE, Mail Box 522, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, 102206, China. ' School of Energy and Power Engineering, Key Laboratory of Condition Monitoring and Control for Power Plant Equipment, MOE, Mail Box 522, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, 102206, China. ' School of Energy and Power Engineering, Key Laboratory of Condition Monitoring and Control for Power Plant Equipment, MOE, Mail Box 522, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, 102206, China. ' School of Energy and Power Engineering, Key Laboratory of Condition Monitoring and Control for Power Plant Equipment, MOE, Mail Box 522, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, 102206, China

Abstract: The characteristics of the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) were introduced. The SOFC system can be divided into ten sections based on the Second Law of Thermodynamics. The fuel specific consumption was taken as the primary indicator to investigate the specific consumption for each section. The Energy-flow Framework Diagram (EFD) was undertaken to modify the system, such as controlling the operating temperature and strengthening insulation. It is concluded that the specific consumption of the system is about 0.19 m³/kWh, taking great guidelines for the system improvement.

Keywords: SOFC; solid oxide fuel cells; exergy analysis; specific consumption analysis; EFD; energy flow framework diagram; second law of thermodynamics; temperature control; insulation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2010.031244

International Journal of Exergy, 2010 Vol.7 No.2, pp.255 - 269

Received: 29 Apr 2008
Accepted: 13 Mar 2009
Published online: 26 Jan 2010 *

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