Multi-objective optimization of molten carbonate fuel cell system for reducing CO<sub>2</sub> emission from exhaust gases

doi:10.1007/s11708-014-0341-7

Front. Energy

2015, Vol. 9

Issue (1) : 106-114 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-014-0341-7

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Multi-objective optimization of molten carbonate fuel cell system for reducing CO₂ emission from exhaust gases

Ramin ROSHANDEL(

), Majid ASTANEH, Farzin GOLZAR

Department of Energy Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran 14565114, Iran

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Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate the implementation of a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) as a CO₂ separator. By applying multi-objective optimization (MOO) using the genetic algorithm, the optimal values of operating load and the corresponding values of objective functions are obtained. Objective functions are minimization of the cost of electricity (COE) and minimization of CO₂ emission rate. CO₂ tax that is accounted as the pollution-related cost, transforming the environmental objective to the cost function. The results show that the MCFC stack which is fed by the syngas and gas turbine exhaust, not only reduces CO₂ emission rate, but also produces electricity and reduces environmental cost of the system.

Keywords molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) multi-objective optimization (MOO) Pareto curve genetic algorithm CO₂ separation

Corresponding Author(s): Ramin ROSHANDEL

Just Accepted Date: 20 November 2014 Online First Date: 02 February 2015 Issue Date: 02 March 2015

Cite this article:

Ramin ROSHANDEL,Majid ASTANEH,Farzin GOLZAR. Multi-objective optimization of molten carbonate fuel cell system for reducing CO₂ emission from exhaust gases[J]. Front. Energy, 2015, 9(1): 106-114.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fie/EN/10.1007/s11708-014-0341-7
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fie/EN/Y2015/V9/I1/106

Fig.1 MCFC system flow

Tab.1 MCFC input composition

Fig.2 MCFC structure

	Reaction
Anode reaction	$H 2 + CO 3 2 − → H 2 O + CO 2 + 2 e −$
Cathode reaction	$CO 2 + 12 O 2 + 2 e − → CO 3 2 −$
Overall reaction	$H 2 + 12 O 2 + CO 2 (cathode) → H 2 O + CO 2 (anode)$

Tab.2 Main reactions of MCFC

Tab.3 Cost parameters

Fig.3 MCFC model validation

Fig.4 Conflicting behavior of COE and emission rate with respect to operating load

Fig.5 Pareto curve of the MOO problem

Tab.4 Optimal values of the objective functions

Fig.6 Effect of MCFC stack cost on IRR and PBP

$A unit$	Area of a discrete unit/cm²
$C i$	Parameters related to electrodes and electrolytes
$C OP, 1$	Fuel cost in the first year/($•a⁻¹)
$C tot$	Overall cost/$
COE	Cost of electricity/ ($• (kWh)⁻¹)
$COE RT$	Cost of electricity including carbon dioxide tax/ ($· (kWh)⁻¹)
CT	Carbon dioxide tax/ ($·t⁻¹)
$E$	Theoretically achievable maximum reversible potential/V
$E ο$	Standard cell potential/V
$E pry$	Electric energy produced per year/ (kWh•a⁻¹)
ER	Emission rate
$F$	Faraday’s constant (96487?C equiv.^-1)
$F i$	Molar ﬂow rate of component i/ (mol·h⁻¹)
$F i (x)$	Objective function
$G pr, 1$	Fuel price in the first year/ ($· (kWh)⁻¹)
$Δ G$	The Gibbs free energy change/ (J·mol^-1)
$Δ H$	Enthalpy/ (kJ·kmol^-1)
$i$	Current/A
$I 1$	Total investment cost in the first year/$
I_in	Specific investment cost of the installation for the MCFC/ ($•kW⁻¹)
$I inf ⁡$	Inflation rate/ (%·a⁻¹)
$I si$	Specific cost of a stack for the MCFC/ ($·kW⁻¹)
$j$	Current density/ (A·m^-2)
$K P$	Equilibrium constant
$m ˙ CO 2,sep$	Separated carbon dioxide flow/ (t·h^-2)
$n$	Year
$P p$	Plant power/kW
$P F$	Plant factor/ (h·a⁻¹)
R	Resistance/ (Ω· m^-2)
R_an	Irreversible losses at anode/ (Ω·m^-2)
R_ca	Irreversible losses at cathode/ (Ω·m^-2)
$R ir$	Internal cell resistance/ (Ω·m^-2)
$R tot$	The sum of irreversibility occurred at anode, cathode and electrode/ (Ω·m^-2)
RT_tot,1	Total reduced carbon dioxide tax in the first year/($·a⁻¹)
$T$	Temperature/C
$V$	Cell voltage/V
$w$	Weight factor
$X$	Conversion degree
Greek letter
$η$	Voltage loss/V
$η elec$	Electrical efficiency
Subscripts
an	Anode
ca	Cathode
CO	Carbon monoxide
CO₂	Carbon dioxide
e	Electric
elec	Electrical
H₂	Hydrogen
H₂O	Water vapor
i	Species
i, an	Species at anode
i, ca	Species at cathode
in	Installation
inf	Inflation
ir	Internal resistance
ne	Nernst
out	Outlet
OP	Operation
p	Plant
pr	Price
pry	Produced per year
RT	Reduced CO₂ tax
si	Stack investment cost
tot	Total
Superscripts
0	Standard
max	Maximum
trans	Transformed
Abbreviations
GHG	Greenhouse gases
IRR	Internal rate of return
kWh	Kilo-Watt-hour
MCFC	Molten carbonate fuel cell
MOO	Multi-objective optimization
PBP	Payback period

Notations

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