Main results of the Siemens SOFC generators CHP100 and SFC5 in a mechanical workshop

摘要

The EOS and EBE Projects carry on an industrial research on Stationary Fuel Cells based on the SOFC technology developed by Siemens, through a co-operation between TurboCare S.p.A. (a subsidiary of Siemens Power Generation) and Politecnico di Torino. In the first phase of EOS project TurboCare installed CHP100: it is rated 100 kWe and 60 kWth and it was operated in USA, Netherlands and Germany for 20,400 hours until 2002. The installation was designed by Politecnico and it includes also an adsorption chiller. The generator was commissioned on June 19, 2005, and today has shown the record availability of 99.1% with more than 16,400 hours of operation in Torino and more than 36,890 operating hours in total. The system runs with very high electrical efficiency of 42- 44% and total efficiency of 70-80%. It has produced in Torino to date more than 1,662,000 kWh (ac), about one third of the electrical energy required by the workshop in two years. In TurboCare is also installed the SFC5 SOFC generator (EBE project), Serial Number Alpha 6, built in 2005, a prototype designed by Siemens to supply Combined Heat and Power to residential houses or small business. It produces 3.5 kWe and 3 kWth. To date, it has operated in the workshop canteen for more than 10,000 hours with very high reliability, and has produced more than 30,000 kWh (AC). In this paper a results overview of the experimental activities and operation of the first three years of the plants and of the several experimental activities performed to analyze the system behaviour, are shown. In particular, the latest experimental campaign performed on SFC5Alpha6, based especially on tests with a fuel of variable composition, is presented. The system is designed for natural gas operation, but applying slight modifications to the fuel supply system it is possible to operate it with diluted natural gas (simulating a syngas), or with a mixture of natural gas and water-diluted ethanol. In this experimental campaign several tests have been carried out changing the water-ethanol percentage, in order to demonstrate the fuel flexibility of the SOFC generator.