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Reversible solid-oxide cell stack based power-to-x-to-power systems: Comparison of thermodynamic performance

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  • Wang, Ligang
  • Zhang, Yumeng
  • Pérez-Fortes, Mar
  • Aubin, Philippe
  • Lin, Tzu-En
  • Yang, Yongping
  • Maréchal, François
  • Van herle, Jan

Abstract

The increasing penetration of variable renewable energies poses new challenges for grid management. The economic feasibility of grid-balancing plants may be limited by low annual operating hours if they work either only for power generation or only for power storage. This issue might be addressed by a dual-function power plant with power-to-x capability, which can produce electricity or store excess renewable electricity into chemicals at different periods. Such a plant can be uniquely enabled by a solid-oxide cell stack, which can switch between fuel cell and electrolysis with the same stack. This paper investigates the optimal conceptual design of this type of plant, represented by power-to-x-to-power process chains with x being hydrogen, syngas, methane, methanol and ammonia, concerning the efficiency (on a lower heating value) and power densities. The results show that an increase in current density leads to an increased oxygen flow rate and a decreased reactant utilization at the stack level for its thermal management, and an increased power density and a decreased efficiency at the system level. The power-generation efficiency is ranked as methane (65.9%), methanol (60.2%), ammonia (58.2%), hydrogen (58.3%), syngas (53.3%) at 0.4 A/cm2, due to the benefit of heat-to-chemical-energy conversion by chemical reformulating and the deterioration of electrochemical performance by the dilution of hydrogen. The power-storage efficiency is ranked as syngas (80%), hydrogen (74%), methane (72%), methanol (68%), ammonia (66%) at 0.7 A/cm2, mainly due to the benefit of co-electrolysis and the chemical energy loss occurring in the chemical synthesis reactions. The lost chemical energy improves plant-wise heat integration and compensates for its adverse effect on power-storage efficiency. Combining these efficiency numbers of the two modes results in a rank of round-trip efficiency: methane (47.5%) > syngas (43.3%) ≈ hydrogen (42.6%) > methanol (40.7%) > ammonia (38.6%). The pool of plant designs obtained lays the basis for the optimal deployment of this balancing technology for specific applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Ligang & Zhang, Yumeng & Pérez-Fortes, Mar & Aubin, Philippe & Lin, Tzu-En & Yang, Yongping & Maréchal, François & Van herle, Jan, 2020. "Reversible solid-oxide cell stack based power-to-x-to-power systems: Comparison of thermodynamic performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:275:y:2020:i:c:s0306261920308424
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115330
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    5. Goraj, Rafał & Kiciński, Marcin & Ślefarski, Rafał & Duczkowska, Anna, 2023. "Validity of decision criteria for selecting power-to-gas projects in Poland," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
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    7. Saheli Biswas & Shambhu Singh Rathore & Aniruddha Pramod Kulkarni & Sarbjit Giddey & Sankar Bhattacharya, 2021. "A Theoretical Study on Reversible Solid Oxide Cells as Key Enablers of Cyclic Conversion between Electrical Energy and Fuel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-18, July.
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    9. Zhang, Yumeng & Wang, Ningling & Tong, Xiaofeng & Duan, Liqiang & Lin, Tzu-En & Maréchal, François & Van herle, Jan & Wang, Ligang & Yang, Yongping, 2021. "Reversible solid-oxide cell stack based power-to-x-to-power systems: Economic potential evaluated via plant capital-cost target," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
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    11. Zhong, Like & Yao, Erren & Zou, Hansen & Xi, Guang, 2022. "Thermodynamic and economic analysis of a directly solar-driven power-to-methane system by detailed distributed parameter method," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 312(C).
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    14. Sánchez, Antonio & Castellano, Elena & Martín, Mariano & Vega, Pastora, 2021. "Evaluating ammonia as green fuel for power generation: A thermo-chemical perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).

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