Modeling and Analysis of a Bio-Fuelled Ceramic Fuel Cell Stack

Recent development in the advanced ceramic fuel cell (CFC), working at intermediate temperature 600–700°C, brings up feasibility and new opportunity to employ renewable fuels with this innovative technology. It may offer a better solution concerning environment, natural resources and development of our civil society. Moreover, direct oxidation of hydrocarbon fuels at intermediate temperature possesses great advantage in avoiding complex and expensive external reforming process. This paper presents modeling and analysis of an intermediate temperature CFC stack. The model is a general one to evaluate the stack performance for the purpose of optimal design and/or configuration based on the specified electrical power or fuel supply rate, except that the Tafel coefficients are adjusted and/or obtained to match experimental data. The energy and gas flow data obtained from the investigation can be further used to identify the heat exchanger network configurations and optimal operating conditions using process integration techniques. The model can be applied as a stand alone one, or implemented into an overall energy system modeling for the purpose of system study.