This session completes the high-temperature solid oxide fuel cell SOFC model presented in the sessions S61En and S62En.
The models we have developed in these sessions only allowed for pure hydrogen as fuel.
In reality, it is very rare that hydrogen is available: it must be produced from another fuel. This is called reforming.
Reforming a fuel such as methane can be modeled by the basic equation:
CH4 + H2O→ CO + 3 H2(ΔH = 206 140 kJ/kmol)
It allows one to converts the fuel into hydrogen, but requires water and heat supply, and produces carbon monoxide, which is a poison for some fuel cells such as PEMFC, where it is necessary also to convert CO.
These questions are the subject of the session S64En. Here, we will limit ourselves to a simplified approach to reforming, valid for high temperature and CO-insensitive SOFC or MCFC.
We will present two models of SOFC consuming methane, as well as an exercise of advanced modeling concerning a system developed by Siemens Westinghouse.
(Session realized on 09/14/11 by Renaud Gicquel)