Fuel Cell Simulation Using Aspen Plus Simulation Software

In the present study, the structure and operation of solid oxide fuel cells and types of ammonia-water adsorption cycles were evaluated. When the fuel cell temperature is 1100 K, the fuel cell current density is 1.17   and the steam to carbon ratio enters the system is 2, the electrical efficiency of the combined system (HHV) is %50. Using the Aspen Plus optimizer software, we optimized the hybrid system with 500 kW power generation. By performing the optimization, the required investment cost for the hybrid system was obtained on average $1800. Also, the appropriate range of current density and voltage were found to be 0.35 - 0.6    and 0.72 – 0.8 V, respectively. Therefore, based on the calculations and optimization, our cycle has an average cost of 1800 $/kW. The point to be noted is that the cost per capita is 6000 kW. According to economic principles if the amount of power generation increases, the amount of cost per unit of power generation will decrease. A hybrid heating system (gas turbine + steam turbine) with a production capacity of 140 MW ​​has an average cost 1100$/kW. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the cost of the cycle per unit of production capacity by increasing the scale of the desired cycle in the industrial units to be competitive with conventional thermal power plants. Of course, do not forget that the efficiency of our desired cycle is higher than the efficiency of conventional thermal power plants.