Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System Configurations for Distributed Generation

This paper deals with the determination of the optimal configuration of two integrated systems for distributed energy generation, based on solid oxide fuel cells. Both systems are obtained starting from the Siemens CHP100 generator. The first system is obtained by recovering some of the heat flux available from the fuel cell to feed an organic Rankine cycle. The second system is obtained by installing the fuel cell generator instead of the combustion chamber of a micro-gas-turbine. The fuel cell produces about 100 kW of electricity. The integrated systems allow to increase of about 30% the electricity production. Pinch analysis is then applied in order to analyze the theoretical improvements and to rearrange the location of the heat recovery devices, without modifying the temperature conditions of the main processes. The optimal structure, according to a thermodynamic criterion, is obtained and discussed.