Molten carbonate fuel cell system fed with biofuels for electricity production

It is found that the large amount of heat (20%-54% of the inlet fuel - LHV basis) is employed for the reforming of the biofuel during the heating phase of inlet stream to the reforming operative temperature. Moreover, among the examined biofuels the highest amount of externally supplied energy (∼79% of the inlet fuel - LHV basis) is wasted in the fuel processor unit for the steam reforming of ethanol, mostly due to the high amount of the water required (S/C = 4.2 mol/mol). Finally, it is also found that the combined biogas reformer-MCFC system is exhibited the highest electrical efficiency (76%).