Session: 06-04 Fuel Cell Driven Cycles I

Paper Number: 128991

128991 - Investigation of an Ammonia-Fuelled SOFC-mGT Hybrid System: Performances Analysis and Comparison With Natural Gas-Based System 

Among power generation systems, Hybrid Systems (HS) are very attractive due to the opportunity to reach higher power outputs and efficiencies by coupling different technologies. One of the most studied innovative HS is the Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC)-micro–Gas Turbine (mGT) integrated system: in the pressurized configuration, the Fuel Cell (FC) is in the place of mGT combustion chamber, and an afterburner is used to complete the fuel combustion upstream the expander. Several system configurations, designs, and control system challenges have been studied in the last decades, and prototypes have been already developed around the world with satisfactory results in terms of system efficiency. However, these systems have been deeply studied feeding the FC with Natural Gas (NG) and Biogas, not completely achieving zero carbon emissions. The global demand for carbon-free energy production is increasing, highlighting the importance of alternative fuels in the power generation sector: among others, ammonia is gaining more and more interest thanks to its chemical and physical properties. In the present work, the authors intend to investigate an innovative Ammonia-to-Power (A2P) system based on a SOFC-mGT HS, focusing on the main thermodynamic parameters, the system’s features, and critical aspects, from a technical and environmental point of view. To perform this analysis, a MATLAB/Simulink model has been developed, starting from a fully validated model of the HS fueled by NG and considering the FC operating with an anodic ejector recirculation. In the new plant configuration, the SOFC pre-reformer has been replaced by an ammonia cracker, and the effects on the anode gas recirculation and on the whole system design have been investigated. In particular, the behavior of the operating parameters, such as anodic recirculation factor, fuel utilization, performance and gas turbine size and features are presented and discussed. Finally, a comparison between hybrid systems and mGT fed by methane, biogas and ammonia is carried out.

Presenting Author: Chiara Anfosso Università di Genova - Savona Campus

Presenting Author Biography: Chiara Anfosso is a PhD student at the Thermochemical Power Group of the University of Genoa. Her topics are related to innovative energy plants including power generation from renewable sources and alternatives fuels (i.e., hydrogen and ammonia). She also focuses on system modelling, simulation, and validation to obtain high efficiency and environmentally friendly heat and power generation. She has been involved in ENVISION H2020 project and she is currently working on FLEXnCONFU H2020 project.

Authors:

Chiara Anfosso Università di Genova - Savona Campus
Silvia Crosa Università di Genova - Savona Campus
Federico Iester Università di Genova
Daria Bellotti Università degli Studi di Genova
Loredana Magistri Università di Genova