THERMODYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF METHANE FUELED SOLID OXIDE FUEL-CELL SYSTEM

An extensive thermodynamic analysis on different versions of external reforming of methane for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) has been carried out in this paper. Steam reforming, partial oxidation and exhaust gas reforming have been compared. As a theoretical tool, an electrochemical generator was used, where the reactions involved in the reformer, in the fuel cell and in the exhaust gas sections have been separately analysed. Equilibrium calculations were performed in the temperature range 1000 - 1400 K assuming different oxidized/reduced component ratios at the inlet and at the outlet of the electrochemical section. On this basis the results pointed out that the most efficient way to feed a SOFC is by exhaust gas reforming, while the partial oxidation efficiencies show lower values, especially at high temperatures. The heat flows of different sections of the SOFC have been also considered.