Economic and thermodynamic evaluation of a new solid oxide fuel cell based polygeneration system

A novel polygeneration system operated by a solid oxide fuel cell is introduced in this article. To show the feasibility of the proposed system, thermodynamic and economic analyses are taken as a merit for the design purpose. After simulation, the outcomes exhibited that the proposed polygeneration system can produce net electricity, cooling load, and H-2 rate of 402.2 kW, 96.61 kW, and 15 x 10(5) kg/h, correspondingly. Regarding this scenario, the energetic efficiency, exergetic efficiency, and overall product cost of the polygeneration system are computed 69.54%, 54.89%, and 155.7 $/GJ, correspondingly. Among all constituents, the solid oxide fuel cell stack attributed as the utmost destructive component by exergy destruction rate of 808.9 kW. Further examination is outlined by inspecting the impact of disparate preeminent thermodynamic parameters on the main outcome criteria and the results are argued in detail. Based on it, it was made a deduction that a higher energetic efficiency is attainable by raising the turbine 2 inlet pressure and evaporation temperature or by reducing the fuel cell current density and mass extraction ratio. Besides, from the 2nd law of thermodynamic vantage point, a higher exergetic efficiency is achieved by raising the fuel cell inlet temperature, mass extraction ratio, and evaporation temperature or by decreasing the fuel cell current density and turbine 2 inlet pressure. From economic standpoint, it is discovered that the overall product cost of the system can be reduced by raising the fuel cell current density and turbine 1 inlet pressure or decreasing the mass extraction ratio, turbine 2 inlet pressure, and evaporation temperature. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.