High-Temperature Fuel Cells for Mobile and Stationary Applications

Application of SOFCs In Combined Heat, Cooling and Power Systems

The unique characteristics of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have encouraged their development for a wide variety of applications that range from portable, mobile and micro-combined heat and power (500W to 20 kW) to larger-scale stationary power at both distributed generation (100kW –5MW) and central utility scales (100 MW). Attractive SOFC technology attributes include high electric efficiency, high-grade waste heat, fuel flexibility, low emissions, power scalability, and low unit capital cost potential when high production volumes are achieved. The high operating temperature of SOFCs enable production of varying grades of waste heat that can then be recovered for process heating, power augmentation via gas turbine integration, or for polygeneration of exportable products (e.g., heat, cooling, power or fuels). The effective use of waste heat significantly impacts overall system efficiency, economics and environmental emissions. These attributes have accelerated SOFC technology development with the aim of replacing traditional combustion-based power generation equipment, as well as offering solutions to emerging 21st century energy problems.

This work focused on synthesizing advancements in SOFC systems technologies towards deployment in commercial building applications.

SOFC system

PUBLICATIONS

  1. R.J. Braun and P. Kazempoor, “Application of SOFCs in Combined Heating, Cooling and Power Systems”, Chap. 12, in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: From Materials to System Modeling, T.S. Zhao and M. Ni, editors, Energy and Environment Series No. 7, Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, U.K. (2013), 56 pages.

Current Projects

HIGH-ENERGY, LOW-COST & ROBUST HYBRID SOFC/IC ENGINE POWER GENERATOR
DEVELOPMENT OF INTERMEDIATE-TEMPERATURE FUEL-FLEXIBLE PROTONIC-CERAMIC FUEL CELLS
Intermediate-Temperature Water Splitting Using Protonic Ceramic Electrolysis Cells

Past Projects

Design and Integration of Efficient Energy Systems For Low And Zero-Energy Commercial Buildings and Complexes With Cyber-Physical Systems
Development of SOFC System for Geothermic Oil and Gas Application
Application of SOFCs In Combined Heat, Cooling and Power Systems
Modeling, Analysis, and Optimization of Integrated Gasification Fuel Cell Systems
SOFC Systems For Aircraft and Unmanned Vehicle Applications

Selected Publications in This Research Area

Design of Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cell Systems and Their Potential as a Distributed Power Generator with Electric Efficiencies Exceeding 70% (working paper)

A. Dubois, K. Ferguson, R.J. Braun

Journal of Power Sources, (2020)

Development of kW-Scale Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells and Systems

R.J. Braun, A. Dubois, K. Ferguson, C. Duan, C. Karakaya, R.J. Kee, … A. Wood

ECS Transactions, 91(1):997–1008, (2019)

Steady-State and Dynamic Modeling of Intermediate-Temperature Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells

K.J. Albrecht, A. Dubois, K. Ferguson, C. Duan, R.P. O’Hayre, R.J. Braun

Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 166(10):F687–F700, (2019)

Development of a Novel High Efficiency, Low Cost Hybrid SOFC/Internal Combustion Engine Power Generator

R.J. Braun, E. Reznicek, C. Cadigan, N.P. Sullivan, R. Danforth, T. Bandhauer, S. Garland, D. Olsen, B. Windom, B. Schaffer

ECS Transactions, 91(1):355–360, (2019)

Highly Durable, Coking and Sulfur Tolerant, Fuel-Flexible Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cell

C. Duan, S. Ricote, H. Zhu, N. Sullivan, C. Karakaya, R.J. Kee, R.J. Braun, R. O’Hayre

Nature, 557:217–222, (2018)

Design and Dispatch Optimization of a Solid-Oxide Fuel Cell Assembly for Unconventional Oil and Gas Production

G. Anyenya, R.J. Braun, K. Lee, N.P. Sullivan, A. M. Newman

Optimization & Engineering, 19:1037–1081, (2018)

Benchmarking the Expected Stack Manufacturing Cost of Next Generation, Intermediate-Temperature Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells with Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Technology

A. Dubois, S. Ricote, R.J. Braun

Journal of Power Sources, 369:65–77, (2017)

Modeling and Simulation of a Novel 4.5 kWe Multi-Stack Solid-Oxide Fuel Cell Prototype Assembly for Combined Heat and Power

G.Anyenya, N.P. Sullivan, R.J. Braun

Energy Conversion & Management, 140:247–259, (2017)

Experimental Testing of a Novel Kilowatt-Scale Multistack Solid-Oxide Fuel Cell Assembly for Combined Heat and Power

G.Anyenya, B. Haun, M. Daubenspeck, R. J. Braun, N.P. Sullivan

ASME Journal of Electrochemical Energy Conversion & Storage, 13(4):041001, (2016)

Readily Processed Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells with High Performance at Low Temperatures

C. Duan, J. Tong, M. Shang, S. Nikodemski, M. Sanders, S. Ricote, A. Almansoori, R. O'Hayre

Science, 349(6254):1321–1326, (2015)

Modeling Intermediate Temperature Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells

K.J. Albrecht, C. Duan, R. O’Hayre, R.J. Braun

ECS Transactions, 68(1):3165–3175, (2015)

A Mixed-Integer Nonlinear Program for the Optimal Design and Dispatch of Distributed Generation Systems

K. Pruitt, A. Newman, S. Leyffer, R.J. Braun

Optimization and Engineering, 15:167–197, (2014)

Evaluating Shortfalls in Mixed-Integer Programming Approaches for the Optimal Design and Dispatch of Distributed Generation Systems

K. Pruitt, R.J. Braun, A. Newman

Applied Energy, 102:386–398, (2013)

Establishing Conditions for the Economic Viability of Fuel Cell-Based, Combined Heat and Power Distributed Generation Systems

K. Pruitt, R.J. Braun, A. Newman

Applied Energy, 111:904–920, (2013)

Application of SOFCs in Combined Heating, Cooling and Power Systems

R.J. Braun and P. Kazempoor

Chap. 12 in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: From Materials to System Modeling, T.S. Zhao and M. Ni, editors, Energy and Environment Series No. 7, Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, U.K. (2013)

View Other Research Areas:

MODELING AND SYSTEMS ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE FUEL PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION SYSTEMS

RENEWABLES AND GRID-ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS