Enhancing the Performance Evaluation and Process Design of a Commercial-Grade Solid Oxide Fuel Cell via Exergy Concepts

摘要: Fuel cell technology is a promising means of energy conversion. As the matures, process design and analysis are gaining importance. The conventional measures fuel performance (i.e., gross real voltage efficiencies) limited indices-of-merit. Contemporary second law concepts (availability/exergy, irreversibility, exergetic efficiency) have been used to enhance evaluation. A previously modeled solid oxide has analyzed using both contemporary thermodynamic measures. Various irreversibilities were quantified, their impact on inefficiency was better understood. Exergetic efficiency more comprehensive than indices-of- performance. This parameter includes thermal irreversibilities, considers value effluent exergy, consistent formulation. Usage led discoveries different from trends observed in conjunction with decision variables operating pressure, air stoichiometric number (inverse equivalence ratio), utilization.