Simulation analysis of multi-physics coupling SOFC fueled nature gas in the way of internal reforming and external reforming

doi:10.11949/j.issn.0438-1157.20180445

Abstract

Abstract:

Internal reforming (IR) and external reforming (ER) are two modes of operation when solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are fueled by natural gas (NG). The performance and efficiency of batteries in different reforming modes are also different. 3D unit cell of ER-SOFC and IR-SOFC model fueled NG was designed which consist of Ni-YSZ//YSZ//LSCF-GDC based on multi-physics coupling software COMSOL Multiphysics^? 5.2. The simulation results show that: the power density, fuel utilization and energy utilization of IR-SOFC are higher than ER-SOFC; methane steam reforming occurs mainly in the regions near fuel inlet of anode side; different from the reduction of concentration of H₂ and CO in ER-SOFC, the concentration of H₂ and CO rises first and then decreases in IR-SOFC; the temperature of IR-SOFC change dramatically more than ER-SOFC and the temperature gradient of IR-SOFC is highest at the anode inlet area; more closer of distance near the current collector, more higher ion current density on the surface between cathode and electrolyte; carbon deposition do not happen in ER-SOFC at anode side, whereas it take place as a result of CH₄ thermal decomposition reaction in IR-SOFC which carbon activity was more than 270.

Key words: nature gas, computer simulation, internal reforming, external reforming, solid oxide fuel cells

摘要：

内重整（IR）和外重整（ER）是固体氧化物燃料电池（SOFC）以天然气（NG）为燃料时的两种工作方式，不同重整方式下的电池性能、效率也不尽相同。借助有限元分析软件COMSOL Multiphysics^? 5.2，以天然气为燃料，建立了电池组成为Ni-YSZ//YSZ//LSCF-GDC的ER-SOFC和IR-SOFC两种三维单电池模型。模拟结果表明：相同条件下，IR-SOFC具有比ER-SOFC更高的功率密度、燃料利用率和能量利用率；阳极重整反应主要发生在靠近燃料入口的区域内；H₂和CO含量在IR-SOFC中先升高后降低，在ER-SOFC中则一直降低；IR-SOFC的温度变化更剧烈，燃料入口处温度梯度最大；越靠近集流体的区域，电解质表面的离子电流密度越大；ER-SOFC阳极不会发生热力学上的积炭现象，对于IR-SOFC，CH₄热分解反应是整个阳极发生积炭的主要原因，其在燃料入口处的积炭活性高达270。

关键词: 天然气, 计算机模拟, 内重整, 外重整, 固体氧化物燃料电池

CLC Number:

TQ 028.8

Jing XIE, Mingyi XU, Shuai BAN, Hui SUN, Hongjun ZHOU. Simulation analysis of multi-physics coupling SOFC fueled nature gas in the way of internal reforming and external reforming[J]. CIESC Journal, 2019, 70(1): 214-226.

谢静, 徐明益, 班帅, 孙晖, 周红军. 天然气内重整和外重整下SOFC多场耦合三维模拟分析[J]. 化工学报, 2019, 70(1): 214-226.

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