Publication Date
2013
Document Type
Thesis
Committee Members
James Menart (Committee Member), Scott Thomas (Committee Member), Mitch Wolff (Advisor)
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Abstract
Molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC) have a high operating temperature of approximately 650° C (1200° F) to achieve sufficient conductivity of its carbonate electrolyte. Therefore, a gas turbine engine coupled with a MCFC is desirable since the turbine engine can be used to provide hot gas to the cathode, and the cathode gas residue can be used to raise the temperature of the natural gas and water vapor mixture (fuel) before it enters the MCFC at the anode. Dynamic models of a hybrid power plant consisting of a gas turbine engine and a MCFC with their respective components were developed in MATLAB/Simulink to capture in real time the changes due to sudden fluctuations on power loads, air flows, etc., and to develop safe and efficient control of this system. The power plant is composed by a compressor, turbine, shaft, heat exchangers, heat recovery unit, an oxidizer and a molten carbonate fuel cell working synergistically able to achieve high operating efficiencies and power demands in the MW range. The project is a joint effort between Purdue University and Wright State University where the oxidizer and fuel cell models are developed by Purdue, and the rest of the components are developed by Wright State University.
Page Count
95
Department or Program
Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Year Degree Awarded
2013
Copyright
Copyright 2013, all rights reserved. This open access ETD is published by Wright State University and OhioLINK.
