Advanced exergy analysis for the solid oxide fuel cell system combined with a kinetic-based modeling pre-reformer

Abstract Determining the main source of exergy destructions is of great significance to the optimal design of high-efficiency energy storage systems. In this study, solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system combined with a kinetic-based modeling pre-reformer is proposed. The performance of the system is analyzed using conventional and advance exergy analyses. The conventional exergy analysis calculates the exergy destructions of each component respectively and shows the exergy destructions of component Stack (39.66 kW) is the largest. Advanced exergy analysis considers the interaction between the various components of the system and technical limitations, which considers shows more detailed, reliable and comprehensive results than those obtained by conventional exergy analysis. The results showed that the component Heat exchanger is the greatest potential for improvement due to the largest avoidable endogenous exergy destructions (22.32 kW) and negative avoidable endogenous destructions (−12.33 kW). The component Stack has the second avoidable endogenous exergy destructions (19.86 kW) and the positive avoidable exogenous exergy destructions (2.81 kW). This result shows that the component Stack should be modified first. Real improvement potential of the proposed SOFC system is quantified: 48.39% of the total exergy destruction is avoidable. It is found that exergy destructions is mainly related to the component itself in the system since 87.50% of the total exergy destruction is endogenous. The results of conventional and advanced exergy analysis both indicate, in the SOFC system, the component Stack should be given the priority for optimization.