Simulation Integrated Low Rank Coal Gasification SOFC Fuel Cell using Cycle Tempo: Energetic Analysis

Abstract

Coal is currently the primary source of fuel for electricity generation. However, the use of low-rank coal as fuel in fuel cell power plants is still relatively uncommon. This study focuses on the simulation of integrating low-rank coal gasification with Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) systems. This simulation was carried out in two modes. The first mode involves simulating the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell system with producer gas generated from the gasification of low-rank coal, which was directly inputted as SOFCs. Meanwhile, the second mode involves the simulation of a low-rank coal gasification system that was integrated with a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell system. These simulations were carried out with a constant parameter of the air-fuel ratio operation of gasification. Following this, the fuel cell operating parameters were varied in terms of the temperature, pressure, area, and current density of the cell. The obtained results indicated that modes 1 and 2 produced a similar amount of power. However, mode 1 was found to be twice as efficient as mode 2. The maximum power produced was around 34.5 MWe for both modes, with efficiency rates of 41.1% and 17% respectively.