Modeling of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell with Internal Reforming Operation Fueled by Natural Gas

Abstract

Mathematical models of indirect internal reforming solid oxide fuel cells (IIR-SOFC) fueled by natural gas were developed to analyze the thermal coupling of an internal reformer with electrochemical reactions and to investigate the system performance. The models are based on steady-state, heterogeneous, two-dimensional reformer and annular design SOFC models. The configuration of the internal reformer was considered as conventional packed-bed reactor. The simulations indicated that natural gas is rapidly consumed at the reformer; hence, it appears that the temperature is drops substantially at the entrance of the reformer. It is also observed that the composition of natural gas also plays an important role on the IIR-SOFC thermal and electrical performance. Natural gas from the Gulf of Thailand, after processing, has a lower hydrocarbon content and provides a smoother temperature gradient along the SOFC system, but achieves lower power density and electrical efficiency when compared with natural gas from the North Sea.