Evaluation and multi-objective salp swarm optimization of a new solid oxide fuel cell hybrid system integrated with an alkali metal thermal electric converter/absorption power cycle

Abstract

This research introduces a new combination of an alkali metal thermal electric converter (AMTEC) and an absorption power cycle (APC) to boost the performance of the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) by recovering the high-quality heat released from the SOFC for further electricity production. The performance criteria of the proposed SOFC/AMTEC/APC hybrid system are mathematically derived using thermodynamic, exergoeconomic, and exergoenvironment-based carbon footprint analysis. Extensive parametric assessment is carried out to evaluate the effect of substantial design parameters on the system's performance criteria. Furthermore, the multi-objective salp swarm algorithm (MSSA) with decision-making techniques is performed to ascertain the hybrid system's maximum power density and minimum cost and environmental impact rates densities. Findings depict the effectiveness and merit of the proposed system with 81% power density improvement compared with the related SOFC-based system. Moreover, the system yields the maximum power density of 9589.37 W/m2, and the corresponding energy and exergy efficiencies are obtained by 55.2% and 57.74%, indicating 59.26% and 53.76% improvements relative to the single SOFC. Furthermore, the minimum cost and CO2 emission rate densities are achieved by 4.26 $/h m2 and 3.32 kgCO2/h m2, respectively, with 31.73% and 42.3% enhancements relative to the base point.