Online characterization of operational parameters in an SOFC system with anode‐exhaust gas recirculation by oxygen sensors

In solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system with anode‐exhaust gas recirculation (AEGR), a part of the depleted anode‐exhaust gas is recirculated and mixed with fresh natural gas prior to entering the reformer, resulting in a high potential of direct current‐efficiencies of up to 65%. However, for SOFC s...

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Published inFuel cells (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Vol. 21; no. 5; pp. 453 - 466
Main Authors Schaefer, Felix, Egger, Sebastian, Steiner, Dietmar, Eichel, Rüdiger‐A.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.10.2021
Subjects
Anodes
Direct current
Exhaust gases
Exhaust systems
fuel cell
fuel utilization
Gas composition
Natural gas
Oxygen probes
oxygen sensor
oxygen‐to‐carbon‐ratio
Parameters
Sensors
SOFC system control
solid oxide fuel cell
Solid oxide fuel cells
switch‐type oxygen sensor
wide‐range oxygen sensor
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Summary:In solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system with anode‐exhaust gas recirculation (AEGR), a part of the depleted anode‐exhaust gas is recirculated and mixed with fresh natural gas prior to entering the reformer, resulting in a high potential of direct current‐efficiencies of up to 65%. However, for SOFC systems, it is of crucial importance to monitor relevant characteristic parameters and keep them within safe and durable operating limits. Such characteristic parameters are oxygen‐to‐carbon‐ratio and fuel utilization, which must not exceed system‐specific thresholds. Monitoring and control of these characteristic parameters is not trivial and a challenging task due to the enhanced system complexity. The authors present an approach and studies for determination and controlling characteristic parameters in an SOFC system with AEGR based on oxygen sensors. Therefore, the oxygen sensors, being a mature and easily available technology, are aimed to be in the fuel gas path at anode inlet and outlet of an SOFC‐stack. Analytical correlations of the output value of oxygen sensors to characteristic parameters and simulative studies on the basis of a reference natural gas composition are shown. Additionally, first results of experimental studies of oxygen sensors in representative gas compositions for the anode inlet and outlet of an SOFC system with AEGR are presented.
ISSN:1615-6846
1615-6854
DOI:10.1002/fuce.202100034