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SPECIAL ISSUE RESEARCH PAPERS

# Experimental Test Facility for the Analysis of Transient Behavior of High Temperature Fuel Cell/Gas Turbine Hybrid Power Plants

[+] Author and Article Information
Rodolfo Taccani

Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica, University of Trieste, Via Valerio, 10, 34127 Trieste, Italytaccani@units.it

Diego Micheli

Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica, University of Trieste, Via Valerio, 10, 34127 Trieste, Italy

J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol 3(3), 234-241 (Feb 21, 2006) (8 pages) doi:10.1115/1.2217954 History: Received December 03, 2005; Revised February 21, 2006

## Abstract

Pressurized high temperature fuel cells and gas turbine integrated power systems are receiving growing attention as capable of reaching very high electrical conversion efficiency even in small size power plants. In this system the fuel and the oxidant (air) enter the cell after being compressed. The fuel oxidation reaction occurs predominantly within the fuel cell. The reaction is completed in a combustion chamber and the pressurized combustion products are exhausted through a turbine. The dynamic interdependences related to the integration of the fuel cell and the gas turbine are not completely understood and unexpected complications and dangers might arise. In fact as a consequence of both the relatively large volume of the pressurized portion of the plant and the shape of the stalled characteristic of available compressors, the plant could be affected by the inception of fluid-dynamic instabilities. In particular, surge could be detected in the transient off-design operational conditions occurring during plant regulation, start up and shut down. The paper presents a new experimental fuel cell gas turbine simulation facility that has been constructed at the Mechanical Engineering Department of the University of Trieste, Italy. The facility was designed to examine the effects of transient events on the dynamics of these systems. The theoretical analysis of the plant is completed using a dynamic model of the system purposely developed.

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## Figures

Figure 1

Hybrid power plant simplified schematic

Figure 2

Test facility schematic

Figure 3

Gas turbine, piping, and electrical motor

Figure 4

(a) “Standard” configuration; (b) “open” configuration

Figure 5

Stable branches of the compressor characteristic curves (experimental)

Figure 6

Total to static isentropic efficiency of the compressor (experimental)

Figure 7

Time profile of compressor speed during a shut down test

Figure 8

βp time profile during a shut down test at different valve positions—“standard” configuration

Figure 9

Turbine flow rate time profile during a shut down test at different valve positions—“standard” configuration

Figure 10

βp time profile during a shut down test at different valve positions—“open” configuration

Figure 11

Turbine flow rate time profile during a shut down test at different valve positions—“open” configuration

Figure 12

Simulated time profiles during a shut down test at valve positions αv=90deg—“standard” configuration. (a) βp; (b) compressor flow rate; (c) turbine flow rate.

Figure 13

Simulated time profiles during a shut down test at valve positions αv=30deg—“standard” configuration. (a) βp; (b) compressor flow rate; (c) turbine flow rate.

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