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## Analysis of Micro-Combined Heat and Power Unit with Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

### Jakub Kupecki

#### Abstract

This dissertation presents and summarises work in which an attempt to evaluate and understand characteristics of a micro-combined heat and power unit (CHP) with solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), was made. Study was done using numerical simulations. It handles different aspects of modelling and optimisation of solid oxide fuel cells-based power systems. State-of-the art modelling methods are presented and applicability range is discussed. Typical experimental techniques of single cells and solid oxide fuel cell stacks are given. Thorough literature review summarises the most important issues related to solid oxide fuel cells, including: � principles of operation, � influence of operating conditions on a SOFC performance, � different degradation mechanisms, � different fuels and fuel processing methods, � selected aspect of SOFC integration in power systems, and � various configurations of a micro-power unit with solid oxide fuel cells. Doctoral research concluded in this dissertation comprised development of a numerical simulator and prototype unit of the discussed type. Existing and newly constructed experimental test stands were used to perform measurements allowing validation of mathematical models. Coupling two types of activities - numerical modelling and development of the real power unit, allowed comprehensive evaluation of the analysed processes. Moreover, numerical experiments were done in regimes defined by the operational characteristics of existing components. Selected aspects of the development of a prototype micro-scale combined heat and power unit with SOFC are presented. Testing of auxiliary components was done for validation of submodels and the complete numerical simulator of the power system. Structure of the dissertation is divided into eight chapters covering: introduction to the topic, principles of SOFC operation and the governing equations, current knowledge concerning multilevel modelling of SOFC and SOFC-based power units, motivation for the study, investigation of characteristics of a micro-combined heat and power (CHP) unit, results and final conclusions. Dedicated sections provide information about modelling methods, and experimental studies done specifically for the purpose of current analysis. Laboratory infrastructure used during the doctoral research is briefly presented. Final section of the work summarises the main findings and discusses the final results.
Record ID
WUTd0f224fdb0b14838a8fea1c98898e864
Diploma type
Doctor of Philosophy
Author
Jakub Kupecki Jakub Kupecki,, The Institute of Heat Engineering (FPAE/IHE)Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering (FPAE)
Title in English
Analysis of Micro-Combined Heat and Power Unit with Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Language
(en) English
Certifying Unit
Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering (FPAE)
Discipline
energetics / (technology domain) / (technological sciences)
Status
Finished
Defense Date
29-01-2014
Title date
25-02-2014
Supervisor
Internal reviewers
External reviewers
Sławomir Dykas Sławomir Dykas,, External affiliation of publication: Silesian University of Technology
Pages
214
Keywords in English
xxx
Abstract in English
This dissertation presents and summarises work in which an attempt to evaluate and understand characteristics of a micro-combined heat and power unit (CHP) with solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), was made. Study was done using numerical simulations. It handles different aspects of modelling and optimisation of solid oxide fuel cells-based power systems. State-of-the art modelling methods are presented and applicability range is discussed. Typical experimental techniques of single cells and solid oxide fuel cell stacks are given. Thorough literature review summarises the most important issues related to solid oxide fuel cells, including: � principles of operation, � influence of operating conditions on a SOFC performance, � different degradation mechanisms, � different fuels and fuel processing methods, � selected aspect of SOFC integration in power systems, and � various configurations of a micro-power unit with solid oxide fuel cells. Doctoral research concluded in this dissertation comprised development of a numerical simulator and prototype unit of the discussed type. Existing and newly constructed experimental test stands were used to perform measurements allowing validation of mathematical models. Coupling two types of activities - numerical modelling and development of the real power unit, allowed comprehensive evaluation of the analysed processes. Moreover, numerical experiments were done in regimes defined by the operational characteristics of existing components. Selected aspects of the development of a prototype micro-scale combined heat and power unit with SOFC are presented. Testing of auxiliary components was done for validation of submodels and the complete numerical simulator of the power system. Structure of the dissertation is divided into eight chapters covering: introduction to the topic, principles of SOFC operation and the governing equations, current knowledge concerning multilevel modelling of SOFC and SOFC-based power units, motivation for the study, investigation of characteristics of a micro-combined heat and power (CHP) unit, results and final conclusions. Dedicated sections provide information about modelling methods, and experimental studies done specifically for the purpose of current analysis. Laboratory infrastructure used during the doctoral research is briefly presented. Final section of the work summarises the main findings and discusses the final results.
Thesis file
• File: 1
Kupecki.pdf
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Citation count
2

Uniform Resource Identifier
https://repo.pw.edu.pl/info/phd/WUTd0f224fdb0b14838a8fea1c98898e864/
URN
urn:pw-repo:WUTd0f224fdb0b14838a8fea1c98898e864

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