Effect of recycling solid oxide fuel cell products on the performance of a SOFC-Gas turbine hybrid system

Abstract

In this study, the effect of recycling fuel cell products on the performance of a solid oxide fuel cell and gas turbine (SOFC-GT) hybrid system was investigated. Three types of products recycling are considered: cathode products recycling (CPR), anode products recycling (APR), and both cathode and anode products recycling (BACPR). In the present work, operating temperature and limiting current density was calculated from governing equations by the trial and error method. Furthermore, the effect of pressure ratio and air utilization factor on the performance of the SOFC-GT hybrid system is considered. Results show that CPR has more effect on the performance of hybrid systems than APR. The total electrical efficiency of the hybrid system increases as the cathode recycle ratio (CRR) increases and decreases as the anode recycle ratio (ARR) decreases. In addition, results show that the hybrid system with BACPR can achieve a higher overall electrical efficiency of approximately 75%.