The aim of this work is to investigate the performance of Internal Reforming Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (IRSOFC) and Gas Turbine (GT) combined cycles.
A mathematical model of the IRSOFC steady-state operation was presented in Part A of this work (Massardo and Lubelli, 1998), coupled to the thermodynamic analysis of a number of proposed IRSOFC-GT combined cycles, taking into account the influence of several technological constraints.
In the second part of this work, both an exergy and a thermoeconomic analysis of the proposed cycles have been carried out using the TEMP code developed by the Author (Agazzani and Massardo, 1997). A suitable equation for IRSOFC cost evaluation based on cell geometry and performance has been proposed and employed to evaluate the electricity generation cost of the proposed combined systems.
The results are presented and the influence of several parameters is discussed: external reformer operating conditions, fuel to air ratio, cell current density, compressor pressure ratio, etc. Diagrams proposed by the Author (Massardo and Scialo’, 2000) for cost vs. efficiency, cost vs. specific work, and cost vs. system pressure are also presented and discussed.