Exergoeconomic Analysis of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Based Trigeneration System with External Reformer and Dimethyl Ether

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Urmia University, Urmia,

Abstract

In the present study, Exergoeconomic analysis of a combined solid oxide fuel cell with  a gas turbine, a generator-absorber heat exchanger and heating process heat exchanger for heating, cooling and power production as a tri-generation system is conducted. An external steam reformer is applied to convert di-methyl ether as oxygenated fuel to hydrogen for the electrochemical process of the solid oxide fuel cell. The influence of the primary design parameters (fuel utilization factor and anode inlet temperature) on several variables (energy and exergy efficiencies, exergy destruction and unit costs of the power) are examined. Results show that energy efficiency of proposed system is 38% higher than standalone solid oxide fuel cell. It was found that the maximum exergy destructions occurred in afterburner, solid oxide fuel cell and recuperator. An increase in anode inlet temperature leads to reduction of exergy destruction in afterburner and fuelcell. Unit cost of power is equal to 23.51 $⁄GJ and decreases with an increase in fuel utilization factor or increasing of anode inlet temperature. Increasing of utilization factor will increase all exergy efficiencies by 12%. The effect of increase in anode inlet temperature on exergy efficiencies is positive but compared with the other parameter is lower and will increase them by 8%.

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References

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Amirkabir Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Volume 52, Issue 6
September 2020
Pages 1463-1478

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