Analysis of solid oxide fuel cell system concepts with anode recycling

• We model six system layouts with different concepts of anode recycling loops.
• We examine variants with blower and ejector based approaches.
• The efficiency is mainly influence by fuel utilization and recycling ratio.
• System layout, fuel gas and type of cell have a minor effect on the efficiency.

The main drivers for anode recirculation are the increased fuel efficiency and the independence of the external water supply for the fuel pre-reforming process. Different system flow-schemes have been defined and a set of parameters have been elaborated as basis for various calculations. Taking into account the combinations of layout, cell type, fuel utilization, fuel, and recycling ratio the total number of cases modeled was about 220. All calculated SOFC systems are on a high level of electrical net efficiency in the range of 50–66%. The electrical and thermal efficiencies are mainly influenced by the fuel utilization. The layout itself, the choice of fuel gas or the type of cell have minor effects on the system efficiency.