Fuel cell systems are an emerging engineering technology used to address the energy industry’s main approaches to power generation by offering a unique methodology in energy production. A Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) is one type of fuel cell system, composed of an anode, cathode, and electrolyte made of solid oxide materials that utilize the reaction between hydrogen fuel and oxygen to generate electricity. In the current study, a heavy-duty cell performance model is modeled using simulation tools to analyze the thermodynamic processes for comparison with experimental observations to guarantee simulation validity. Two robust chemical engineering simulation software packages, i.e., Aspen Plus and IDAES, were employed to investigate the SOFC. The simulations determined the influences of gas compositions, outlet parameters, operating temperature, and inlet fuel pressure on SOFC efficiency. In addition, based on the simulation results, recommendations were made for optimizing the performance of SOFC.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Chehadeh, Mostafa
• Tabandeh, Mitra
• Blechinger-Slocum, Devan
• Ourdyl, Tarik

Subject

• Energy
• Sustainability
• Project-Based Learning
• Industry

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 66031
• E-project-042822-173612

Keyword

• Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
• Efficiency
• Simulations
• SOFC
• Energy
• Thermodynamics

Advisor

• Zhong, Yu

Year

• 2022

Sponsor

• Saint-Gobain Research North America

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
• 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Date created

• 2022-04-28

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright