Biogas-to-Power Systems Based on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Thermodynamic Analysis of Stack Integration Strategies

Abstract

Biogas presents a renewable fuel source with substantial potential for reducing carbon emissions in the energy sector. Exploring this potential in the farming sector is crucial for fostering the development of small-scale distributed biogas facilities, leveraging indigenous resources while enhancing energy efficiency. The establishment of distributed biogas plants bolsters the proportion of renewable energy in the energy matrix, necessitating efficient power generation technologies. Given their proximity to bio-waste production sites like farms and digesters, optimising combined heat and power generation systems is imperative for energy self-sufficiency. Small-scale biogas facilities demand specific power generation technologies capable of achieving notable efficiencies, ranging from 40% to 55%. This study focuses on employing Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) in biogas-to-power systems and investigates the theoretical operation of SOFCs with fuel mixtures resulting from different biogas lean upgrading pathways. Therefore, starting from ten mixtures including CH4, CO2, H2, H2O, N2, and O2, the study proposes a method to assess their impact on the electrochemical performance, degradation, and energy equilibrium of SOFC units. The model embeds thermodynamic equilibrium, the Nernst potential, and energy balance, enabling a comprehensive comparison across these three analytical domains. The findings underscore the unsuitability of dry biogas and dry biomethane due to the potential risk of carbon deposition. Moreover, mixtures incorporating CO2, with or without H2, present significant thermal balance challenges.