Performance analysis of a tubular solid oxide fuel cell/micro gas turbine hybrid power system based on a quasi-two dimensional model

A quasi-two dimensional (quasi-2D) model is proposed as a tool to predict the performance of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system composed of bundles of tubular SOFCs and internal reformers. The model is developed by considering heat and mass transfer characteristics mainly along the longitudinal direction of the system, and the electrochemical reaction in its perpendicular direction. With this model, the temperature distribution in the fuel and the air streams along the longitudinal direction of the bundles of tubular SOFCs and internal reformers can be easily predicted. The predicted cell temperature along the longitudinal direction of the tubular SOFC shows important phenomena, which include the temperature rise near the entrance of the fuel cell by the electrochemical reaction and its decrease due to heat transferred from the fuel cell to the internal reformer that absorbs heat in reforming reactions. Also, it is found that different system arrangements and component characteristics influence significantly the heat-transfer characteristics, and possibly the system performance. The results from the quasi-2D model are applied to the performance analysis of a tubular SOFC/micro gas turbine (MGT) hybrid system.