Efficiency analysis of 50 kWe SOFC systems fueled with biogas from waste water

Hendrik Langnickel; Markus Rautanen; Marta Gandiglio; Massimo Santarelli; Tuomas Hakala; Marco Acri; Jari Kiviaho

doi:10.1016/j.powera.2020.100009

Efficiency analysis of 50 kWe SOFC systems fueled with biogas from waste water

Hendrik Langnickel, Markus Rautanen (Corresponding Author), Marta Gandiglio, Massimo Santarelli, Tuomas Hakala, Marco Acri, Jari Kiviaho

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Abstract

Solid oxide fuel cell systems (SOFCs) are able to convert biogas from e.g. waste water plants highly efficiently into electricity and heat. An efficiency study of industrial sized solid oxide fuel cell systems installed at a waste water treatment plant is presented. The site consist of a biogas cleaning unit, two Convion C50 SOFC systems and a heat recovery section. The electric and total efficiencies of the systems are analyzed as a function of the electric net power output. The two systems achieved consistently high electric (50–55%) and total (80–90%) efficiencies in an electric net power output range between 25 kW and 55 kW. The study also shows that the high system efficiencies are independent of the CH4 content in the biogas. The results indicate that fuel cell systems are able to perform power modulation according to the power demand, while achieving constant high efficiencies. This is a clear benefit in comparison to micro turbines and combustion engines which are normally used for converting biogas into electricity and heat.

Original language	English
Article number	100009
Journal	Journal of Power Sources Advances
Volume	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powera.2020.100009
Publication status	Published - 1 Apr 2020
MoE publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

Funding

This project has received funding from the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking under grant agreement No 671470. This Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, Hydrogen Europe and Hydrogen Europe research.

Keywords

Solid oxide fuel cells
Biogas
Combined heat and power
efficiency
Waste water treatment
Circular economy

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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j.powera.2020.100009Final published version, 1.36 MBLicence: CC BY

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title = "Efficiency analysis of 50 kWe SOFC systems fueled with biogas from waste water",

abstract = "Solid oxide fuel cell systems (SOFCs) are able to convert biogas from e.g. waste water plants highly efficiently into electricity and heat. An efficiency study of industrial sized solid oxide fuel cell systems installed at a waste water treatment plant is presented. The site consist of a biogas cleaning unit, two Convion C50 SOFC systems and a heat recovery section. The electric and total efficiencies of the systems are analyzed as a function of the electric net power output. The two systems achieved consistently high electric (50–55%) and total (80–90%) efficiencies in an electric net power output range between 25 kW and 55 kW. The study also shows that the high system efficiencies are independent of the CH4 content in the biogas. The results indicate that fuel cell systems are able to perform power modulation according to the power demand, while achieving constant high efficiencies. This is a clear benefit in comparison to micro turbines and combustion engines which are normally used for converting biogas into electricity and heat.",

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AU - Langnickel, Hendrik

AU - Rautanen, Markus

AU - Gandiglio, Marta

AU - Santarelli, Massimo

AU - Hakala, Tuomas

AU - Acri, Marco

AU - Kiviaho, Jari

PY - 2020/4/1

Y1 - 2020/4/1

N2 - Solid oxide fuel cell systems (SOFCs) are able to convert biogas from e.g. waste water plants highly efficiently into electricity and heat. An efficiency study of industrial sized solid oxide fuel cell systems installed at a waste water treatment plant is presented. The site consist of a biogas cleaning unit, two Convion C50 SOFC systems and a heat recovery section. The electric and total efficiencies of the systems are analyzed as a function of the electric net power output. The two systems achieved consistently high electric (50–55%) and total (80–90%) efficiencies in an electric net power output range between 25 kW and 55 kW. The study also shows that the high system efficiencies are independent of the CH4 content in the biogas. The results indicate that fuel cell systems are able to perform power modulation according to the power demand, while achieving constant high efficiencies. This is a clear benefit in comparison to micro turbines and combustion engines which are normally used for converting biogas into electricity and heat.

AB - Solid oxide fuel cell systems (SOFCs) are able to convert biogas from e.g. waste water plants highly efficiently into electricity and heat. An efficiency study of industrial sized solid oxide fuel cell systems installed at a waste water treatment plant is presented. The site consist of a biogas cleaning unit, two Convion C50 SOFC systems and a heat recovery section. The electric and total efficiencies of the systems are analyzed as a function of the electric net power output. The two systems achieved consistently high electric (50–55%) and total (80–90%) efficiencies in an electric net power output range between 25 kW and 55 kW. The study also shows that the high system efficiencies are independent of the CH4 content in the biogas. The results indicate that fuel cell systems are able to perform power modulation according to the power demand, while achieving constant high efficiencies. This is a clear benefit in comparison to micro turbines and combustion engines which are normally used for converting biogas into electricity and heat.

KW - Solid oxide fuel cells

KW - Biogas

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KW - Waste water treatment

KW - Circular economy

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Efficiency analysis of 50 kWe SOFC systems fueled with biogas from waste water

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

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