Solid oxide fuel cells power plant, components

Siemens-Westinghouse Power Corporation, of Pittsburgh, PA, with a subcontract to Allison Engine Company, evaluated a pressurized solid oxide fuel cell coupled with conventional gas turbine technology without a steam plant. The system was operated at a pressure of 7 atm. The fuel cell generated 16 MW of power and the gas turbine generated 4 MW of power. The process showed 67 % efficiency as developed. An efficiency of 70 % is deemed achievable with improvement in component design. The COE is predicted to be comparable to present day alternatives. NOx levels were less than 1 ppm. 

And so we started on developing our own fuel cell models for power plant modeling purposes. To do this, we had to go back to first principles of solid oxide fuel cells and forge relationships compatible with other models of component parts of the system such as turbines, compressors, heat exchangers etc. nuts and bolts. 

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