IM-SOFC-GT: Integrated modelling study of fuel cell/gas turbine hybrids

• Forschungsstelle: EU FRP
• Projektnummer: 00.0380
• Projekttitel Englisch: IM-SOFC-GT: Integrated modelling study of fuel cell/gas turbine hybrids

Schlüsselwörter (Englisch)

Fuel cell; gas turbine;
Environmental Protection; Energy Saving; Renewable Sources of Energy

Alternative Projektnummern (Englisch)

EU project number: ENK5-2000-0302

Forschungsprogramme (Englisch)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.4b.1 Cleaner energy systems, including renewables

Kurzbeschreibung (Englisch)

See abstract

Partner und Internationale Organisationen (Englisch)

Coordinator: Rolls-Royce plc. (UK)

Abstract (Englisch)

In Europe, a strong emphasis is given to reducing manufacturing cost in stack technologies. As a result, they are still at a much smaller scale than their US competitors. Consequently, the range of Fuel Cell/Gas Turbine (FC/GT) hybrid configurations possible with these newer higher performance technologies has not yet been fully explored and a detailed study is now appropriate. The project aims at: Develop the capability to assess the performance of FC/GT hybrids using a novel approach of close integration of system and stack models. This approach enables a wider range of system configurations to be explored than to date and improves the potential for finding lower costs systems. Develop an understanding of the performance requirements for FC/GT hybrid based generation systems and the necessary system specifications needed to address different sectors of the energy market. Verify that through life environmental impact of FC/GT hybrids will be acceptable to clean energy customers. Obtain specifications of the fuel cell stack, turbo-machinery and other key balance of plant components by combining market understanding and integrated modelling capabilities.

Description of the work:
The project focuses on stationary power generation systems primarily fuelled by natural gas but includes work to identify the most favourable bio-gas for use in Fuel Cell/Gas Turbine (FC/GT) hybrids. Three types of sub-systems are considered: sub-MWe high efficiency distributed generation (DG) systems, 1-3 MWe systems suitable for CHP schemes and 20-30 MWe high efficiency DG systems. The project has 6 work packages, which are to be carried out over 2 and half years.

They cover:
- Assessment of how market pressures map into product requirement for each of the three classes of system;
- Development of generic modelling capabilities including the validation of detailed finite volume thermal and chemical models;
- Development of reduced complexity fuel cell models for use in integrated system modelling;
- Preliminary system designs, one in each size category;
- Recommendations for future work.

Expected Results and Exploitation Plans:
The main results are an assessment of product requirements, the development of generic modelling capabilities and preliminary system designs for the three sub-systems. The long term results are the transfer of fundamental fuel cell technology into commercially viable energy conversion systems, offering the people of Europe a competitively priced clean energy and guiding policy makers in setting the appropriate fiscal framework, regulations and standards to encourage adoption of clean energy conversion.

Datenbankreferenzen (Englisch)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 00.0380