MINI CHP BASED ON THE ELECTROCHEMICAL GENERATOR AND IMPEDED FLUIDIZED BED REACTOR FOR METHANE STEAM REFORMING

The paper presents the scheme of mini CHP with methane reformer and planar solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) stack. The mini CHP produces electricity, superheated steam, hot air and methane for the reformer and it also preheats cathode air used in the SOFC stack as an oxidant. Moreover, the scheme’s mathematical model is constructed. The thermochemical reactor with impeded fluidized bed for autothermal steam reforming of methane (reformer) studied experimentally is the key element in producing synthesis gas – fuel for the SOFC stack. The research indicates that synthesis gas containing 55% of hydrogen can be derived using the reactor. Through mathematical modeling, the entire reactor’s principal dimensions as well as flow rates of air, water and methane were adjusted to the methane reforming for the mini CHP studied. The paper includes the heat balances of the reformer, SOFC stack and waste heat boiler that produces the superheated steam, hot air and methane for the reformer as well as preheated cathode air. These balances were instrumental for calculating the useful product fraction in the reformer, fraction of hydrogen oxidized in the SOFC anode channel, electric gross efficiency, anode temperature, exothermic effect of synthesis gas hydrogen oxidation by air oxygen, excess entropy and Gibbs free energy change at standard conditions, SOFC electromotive force (EMF), specific flow rate of standard fuel for heat, and power generation. The simulation study has shown that the hydrogen oxidation products temperature in the SOFC anode channel is 850ºС, electric gross efficiency 61.0%, single fuel cell EMF 0.985 V, fraction of hydrogen oxidized in the SOFC anode channel 64.6%, specific flow rate of standard fuel for power generation 0.16 kg/(kW·h), for heat generation 44.7 kg/GJ. All the specific parameters are in good agreement with other publications results.

cogeneration power station, reformer, steam methane conversion, syngas, fluidized bed, granulated catalyst, solid oxide fuel cells, partial oxidation of hydrogen, heat exchanger

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