The thermodynamic analysis and optimization of a novel integrated solid oxide fuel cell system with biomass gasification and heat pipes

In the present study, a novel integrated system containing biomass gasifier, sodium high-temperature heat pipes, and solid oxide fuel cells is introduced. The integrated system is taken into consideration due to its high efficiency and power in order to simultaneous producing electrical power and heat. The modeling of system is performed using equilibrium constants, mass and energy conservation law and the analysis of codes is done in EES software. The effect of gasifier STBR, current density, fuel utilization factor, and outlet fuel cell’s temperature as variable parameters is investigated on the power and total energy efficiency of integrated system using response surface method; after validation of modeling in comparison to the experimental results. The analysis of variance results indicate that fuel utilization factor (with 53% contribution) and current density (with 33% contribution) are the most effective parameter on the power and total efficiency, respectively. The power of integrated system is increased by increasing of temperature while power has an increasing behavior follows by decreasing behavior by increasing fuel utilization factor. The total efficiency is increased by increasing temperature and STBR while it is decreased by increasing current density and fuel utilization factor. The results revealed that the power and total efficiency is obtained at optimum states as high as 300 kW and 90%, respectively.