Name: STÉFANI VANUSSI MELO GUAITOLINI
Publication date: 27/11/2019
Advisor:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| JUSSARA FARIAS FARDIN | Advisor * |
| LUCAS FRIZERA ENCARNAÇÃO | Co-advisor * |
Examining board:
| Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| DOMINGOS SÁVIO LYRIO SIMONETTI | Internal Examiner * |
| HÉLIO MARCOS ANDRÉ ANTUNES | External Examiner * |
| JOSIMAR RIBEIRO | External Examiner * |
| JUSSARA FARIAS FARDIN | Advisor * |
| LUCAS FRIZERA ENCARNAÇÃO | Co advisor * |
Summary: Fuel cells are power-generating devices that operate independently of the weather and are capable of operating in isolation, independent of utility companies. Solid oxide fuel cells are powered by natural gas, generate stationary electrical energy, and are a complex system composed of different subsystems that interact with each other resulting simultaneously in a thermal and electrical response. The development of an electric and thermochemical model that enables the simulation and prediction of solid oxide fuel cell operation allows studies and investigations without the need for several experiments that could lead to unnecessary cell depletion. SOFC models were found in the literature but none of them allowed the integration of the thermodynamic study to the electrical study, so a thermochemical and electrical model was developed in the PSCAD software that united the thermodynamic events that happen in the SOFC, through the characteristics of the input gases, and the output information about the electrical parameters of the cell. The developed model makes it possible to find more efficient operating points of the cell by increasing the generated power without the need to increase the fuel in the inlet. It was shown that with adjustments of the cell input parameters of 238.42kW, whose performance was analyzed, there was a 5kW increase in power generated for the same fuel flow. The developed model also makes it possible to carry out studies with load variation, thus being able to monitor the internal information of the cell as temperature and pressure, as well as the electrical responses as voltage, power, current and efficiency. Through the study of load variation, it was observed that the percentage of load reduction is higher than the load increase. This type of analysis is important for maintaining cell operating stability and allows the development of load-varying control structures so as not to exceed stable fuel cell operating limits.
