Efficiency upgrading of an ambient pressure molten carbonate fuel cell plant through the introduction of an indirect heated gas turbine

The efficient end environmentally friendly production of electricity is undoubtedly one of the 21st century priorities. Since renewable sources will be able to guarantee only a share of the future demand, the present research activity must focus on innovative energy devices and improved conversion systems and cycles. Great expectations are reserved to fuel cell systems. The direct conversion from chemical to electrical energy eliminates environmental problems connected with combustion and bypass the stringent efficiency limit due to Carnots principle. Still in infancy, high-temperature fuel cells present the further advantage of feasible cycle integration with steam or gas turbines. In this paper a molten carbonate fuel cell plant is simulated in a cycle for power generation. The introduction of an external combustion gas turbine is evaluated with the aim of efficiency and net power output increase. The results show that the proposed cycle can be conveniently used as a source of power generation. As compared to internal combustion gas turbine hybrid cycles found in the literature the plant is characterized by fuel cell greater simplicity, due to the absence of pressurization, and gas turbine increased complexity, due to the presence of the heat exchange system.