Integrated System of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell and Ethanol Partial Oxidation: Process Simulation and Heat Exchanger Network

A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) fueled by reformate obtained from an ethanol partial oxidation (POX) was investigated regarding electrical and the thermal performances. Performance analysis was performed through Aspen Plus simulator. Gas compositions obtained from POX and SOFC were computed through the Gibbs free energy minimization method. Three voltage losses that include activation, ohmic and concentration losses was considered in an electrochemical model. Effects of operating parameters in both POX and SOFC on performance of SOFC-POX system were examined. From the simulation results, it was found that the suitable condition of POX was at the reformer temperature of 700 ℃ and oxygen to ethanol molar ratio of 0.1. While, the operating temperature of SOFC should be 900 ℃. Under these operating conditions, the maximum electrical and thermal efficiencies of 67.24% and 25.77%, respectively, can be achieved. Finally, the heat integration of the SOFC-POX system was considered using pinch analysis. The minimum cold utility is 88.1 kW while the hot utility is no need for this system.