SELECTION OF A FUEL PROCESSING METHOD FOR SOFC-BASED MICRO-CHP SYSTEM

Micro-scale CHP (Combined Heat and Power) system based on SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) was investigated. Operation principle of power unit with electrical power output of 0.7 - 3 kW fed by biogas is given. Authors present requirements for fuel processing for discussed unit. Three different technologies were analysed, namely CPOX (Catalytic Partial Oxidation), autothermal- and steam reforming. Advantages and dissadvantages of considered techniques are summarized and presented. Numerical modeling with ASPEN Plus engineering software was performed, and through calculations, steam reforming with recirculation of anode-depleted gases was pointed as a optimal fuel processing technology for the application. Preliminary configuration of the invesitgated power system achieved electrical efficiency of 38.8% with overall system efficiency of 67.8%. Analysed power unit is an example of highly efficient system for distributed energy generation.