Performance analysis of a pressurized molten carbonate fuel cell/micro-gas turbine hybrid system

• Published in: Journal of power sources 2010, Vol.195 (1), p.204-213
• Main Authors: Liu, Aiguo, Weng, Yiwu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Engines and turbines; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; Hybrid system; Micro-gas turbine; Part-load; Pressurized molten carbonate fuel cell
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2009.07.024

This paper presents the work on the design and part-load operations of a hybrid power system composed of a pressurized molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) and a micro-gas turbine (MGT). The gas turbine is an existing one and the MCFC is assumed to be newly designed for the hybrid system. Firstly, the MCFC power and total system power are determined based on the existing micro-gas turbine according to the appropriate MCFC operating temperature. The characteristics of hybrid system on design point are shown. And then different control methods are applied to the hybrid system for the part-load operation. The effect of different control methods is analyzed and compared in order to find the optimal control strategy for the system. The results show that the performance of hybrid system during part-load operation varies significantly with different control methods. The system has the best efficiency when using variable rotational speed control for the part-load operation. At this time both the turbine inlet temperature and cell operating temperature are close to the design value, but the compressor would cross the surge line when the shaft speed is less than 70% of the design shaft speed. For the gas turbine it is difficult to obtain the original power due to the higher pressure loss between compressor and turbine.