Exergy Analysis of Novel Cycles Generating Power Using Fuel Cells

Abstract

Nowadays, energy saving in the world or improvement of energy consumption pattern in Iran is one of the serious arguments. About one third of the sources of fossil fuels in the world are consumed for electric energy generation, by attention to the growth of developing countries, it's expected electricity generation will have a 40%-50% growth, in Iran by attention to the life time of existing gas and steam power plants and because most installations of energy generation are worn out, a serious regard to the efficiency of Power Plants and use of new technologies is necessary for increasing the efficiency and reducing in environmental pollution. Some techniques have been offered in current article for exiting from this strait. By comparison 2 types of Fuel Cells, SOFC and MCFC, to apply in cycles of power plants, compound cycle of steam and gas, Repowering technology, the best canvass is the compound cycle including the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell, gas turbine and Recovery Steam Generator. In this comparison, method of thermodynamic analysis, exergy analysis, exergy losses and exery efficiency are assessed one by one.