Title: Exergy analysis of an integrated two-stage biomass gasifier and Solid Oxide Fuel Cell system

Authors: C. Ozgur Colpan

Addresses: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street Toronto, Ontario M5B 2K3, Canada

Abstract: In this study, an exergy analysis is applied to a conceptual integrated two-stage biomass gasifier and Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) system. Several simulations are conducted to assess the effect of some key input parameters on the exergy ratios of the components and the exergy efficiency of the system. The results show that the exergy efficiency of the integrated system varies between 11.6% and 40.4%. The highest exergy destructions occur at the two-stage gasifier and the heat exchanger supplying heat to the air entering the SOFC; whereas the dryer, the blower, and the SOFC have the lowest exergy destructions.

Keywords: SOFC; solid oxide fuel cells; biomass gasifiers; gasification; pyrolysis; exergy efficiency; energy; simulation; heat exchangers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2012.045061

International Journal of Exergy, 2012 Vol.10 No.1, pp.61 - 76

Received: 07 Jun 2011
Accepted: 14 Jul 2011
Published online: 24 Jan 2012 *

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