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System Design and Modeling of a High Temperature PEM Fuel Cell Operated with Ammonia as a Fuel

Author

Listed:
  • Giovanni Cinti

    (Department of Engineering, University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 93, 06125 Perugia, Italy)

  • Vincenzo Liso

    (Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Pontoppidanstræde 111, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark)

  • Simon Lennart Sahlin

    (Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Pontoppidanstræde 111, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark)

  • Samuel Simon Araya

    (Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Pontoppidanstræde 111, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark)

Abstract

Ammonia is a hydrogen-rich compound that can play an important role in the storage of green hydrogen and the deployment of fuel cell technologies. Nowadays used as a fertilizer, NH 3 has the right peculiarities to be a successful sustainable fuel for the future of the energy sector. This study presents, for the first time in literature, an integration study of ammonia as a hydrogen carrier and a high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFC) as an energy conversion device. A system design is presented, that integrates a reactor for the decomposition of ammonia with an HT-PEMFC, where hydrogen produced from NH 3 is electrochemically converted into electricity and heat. The overall system based on the two technologies is designed integrating all balance of plant components. A zero-dimensional model was implemented to evaluate system efficiency and study the effects of parametric variations. Thermal equilibrium of the decomposition reactor was studied, and two different strategies were implemented in the model to guarantee thermal energy balance inside the system. The results show that the designed system can operate with an efficiency of 40.1% based on ammonia lower heating value (LHV) at the fuel cell operating point of 0.35 A/cm 2 and 0.60 V.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanni Cinti & Vincenzo Liso & Simon Lennart Sahlin & Samuel Simon Araya, 2020. "System Design and Modeling of a High Temperature PEM Fuel Cell Operated with Ammonia as a Fuel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-17, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:18:p:4689-:d:410813
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Samuel Simon Araya & Vincenzo Liso & Xiaoti Cui & Na Li & Jimin Zhu & Simon Lennart Sahlin & Søren Højgaard Jensen & Mads Pagh Nielsen & Søren Knudsen Kær, 2020. "A Review of The Methanol Economy: The Fuel Cell Route," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-32, January.
    2. Afif, Ahmed & Radenahmad, Nikdalila & Cheok, Quentin & Shams, Shahriar & Kim, Jung H. & Azad, Abul K., 2016. "Ammonia-fed fuel cells: a comprehensive review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 822-835.
    3. Samuel Simon Araya & Søren Juhl Andreasen & Søren Knudsen Kær, 2012. "Experimental Characterization of the Poisoning Effects of Methanol-Based Reformate Impurities on a PBI-Based High Temperature PEM Fuel Cell," Energies, MDPI, vol. 5(11), pages 1-17, October.
    4. Jimin Zhu & Samuel Simon Araya & Xiaoti Cui & Simon Lennart Sahlin & Søren Knudsen Kær, 2020. "Modeling and Design of a Multi-Tubular Packed-Bed Reactor for Methanol Steam Reforming over a Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 Catalyst," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-25, January.
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    6. Thomas, Sobi & Vang, Jakob Rabjerg & Araya, Samuel Simon & Kær, Søren Knudsen, 2017. "Experimental study to distinguish the effects of methanol slip and water vapour on a high temperature PEM fuel cell at different operating conditions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 422-436.
    7. Yapicioglu, Arda & Dincer, Ibrahim, 2019. "A review on clean ammonia as a potential fuel for power generators," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 96-108.
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