Designing and optimization of a micro CHP system based on Solid Oxide Fuel Cell with different fuel processing technologies

The development of fuel cell technologies offers the opportunity to achieve significant improvements in energy conversion efficiencies at many scales. The high operating temperature (700-1000 Celsius) of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) has a number of consequences, the most important of which are the possibility to partially reform hydrocarbon in the fuel cell anode compartment and the possibility to use high quality heat for cogeneration. In this work, different configurations of solid oxide fuel cell system for decentralized electricity production are examined. The Balance of Plant (BoP) components of the Micro Combined Heat and Power plant (mCHP) will be identified including fuel
and air supply, fuel management anode re-circulation, exhaust gas heat management, power conditioning and control system. Using mass and energy balance, different types of fuel reforming including steam reforming(SMR) and partial oxidation (CPO) will be investigated for each configuration. The internal reforming will be also considered for its ability to reduce the stack temperature
and decrease the need of cooling air. Finally, optimization criteria for SOFC systems applied to single-family detached dwellings will be evaluated in terms of their energetic performance and suitability for meeting residential thermal and electric demand.