Examination of Ambient Pressure Effects on Hybrid Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Turbine System Operation Using Hardware Simulation

Abstract

The effect of ambient inlet air pressure variations on the compressor performance in a direct fired solid oxide fuel cell gas turbine hybrid power system has been studied using the Hybrid Performance (Hyper) project hardware simulation facility at the U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). The Hyper facility at NETL makes use of a high speed numerical model which controls a burner and a series of pressure vessels and piping to collectively simulate a direct-fired, high-temperature fuel cell. The hardware simulating the fuel cell is integrated into the system with a modified single shaft turbine driven compressor and a pair of recuperates to provide cathode air preheat from the turbine exhaust. Orifice plates were employed at the compressor inlet of the facility to parametrically vary the inlet pressure. The compressor inlet temperature for all tests conducted was held within a 2 Kelvin range. Variation in inlet pressure was shown to have a significant effect on many hybrid system performance parameters. Some system parameters were shown to have a linear dependency on the inlet pressure, leading to the implementation of correction factors. Similar dependence of compressor discharge pressure and temperature on compressor inlet pressure was predicted by dynamic models based on isentropic compression principles. Transient operation was also impacted by changes in compressor inlet pressure. Startup profiles are shown against the compressor stall line for indication of changes in surge margin.