IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v208y2017icp703-718.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Dynamic modeling and control analysis of a methanol autothermal reforming and PEM fuel cell power system

Author

Listed:
  • Ipsakis, Dimitris
  • Ouzounidou, Martha
  • Papadopoulou, Simira
  • Seferlis, Panos
  • Voutetakis, Spyros

Abstract

In the present study, a rigorous dynamic and control-oriented model is developed towards accurately describing the autonomous operation of a methanol reforming-fuel cell power system (up to 5kWel). The system consists of an autothermal steam reformer that provides hydrogen to a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell. A purification stage (preferential oxidation reactor) intercedes between the steam reformer and the fuel cell and maintains CO levels below 10–50ppm, while a heat-exchanging network (comprising of two coolers and a burner) is employed towards managing a well-balanced autothermal operation. The proposed dynamic model is developed on the basis of describing accurately the evolving chemical and electrochemical interactions between the subsystems and utilizes a group of partial/ordinary differential equation (reactors and heat exchangers) along with a set of non-linear equations (reaction kinetics and current-voltage dependence). Based on the system main operating features, a control structure through the implementation of PI controllers is proposed for the control of (a) the reformer feed and exit temperature through methanol burning and steam reformer feed flowrate manipulation respectively, (b) CO concentration through O2/CO feed ratio manipulation, (c) power production (specified by the fuel cell operation current) through methanol reformer feed and (d) subsystem exit temperatures through coolant flowrate manipulation. An overall simulation case study reveals the proper selection of system manipulated and controlled variables towards achieving the applied operating set-points, where it is shown that the system sustains a flexible operation, along with fast start-up and dynamic transients.

Suggested Citation

  • Ipsakis, Dimitris & Ouzounidou, Martha & Papadopoulou, Simira & Seferlis, Panos & Voutetakis, Spyros, 2017. "Dynamic modeling and control analysis of a methanol autothermal reforming and PEM fuel cell power system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 703-718.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:208:y:2017:i:c:p:703-718
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.09.077
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261917313594
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.09.077?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jaggi, Vikas & Jayanti, S., 2013. "A conceptual model of a high-efficiency, stand-alone power unit based on a fuel cell stack with an integrated auto-thermal ethanol reformer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 295-303.
    2. Iulianelli, A. & Ribeirinha, P. & Mendes, A. & Basile, A., 2014. "Methanol steam reforming for hydrogen generation via conventional and membrane reactors: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 355-368.
    3. D.F. Chuahy, Flavio & Kokjohn, Sage L., 2017. "High efficiency dual-fuel combustion through thermochemical recovery and diesel reforming," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 503-522.
    4. Damartzis, T. & Zabaniotou, A., 2011. "Thermochemical conversion of biomass to second generation biofuels through integrated process design--A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 366-378, January.
    5. Ouzounidou, Martha & Ipsakis, Dimitris & Voutetakis, Spyros & Papadopoulou, Simira & Seferlis, Panos, 2009. "A combined methanol autothermal steam reforming and PEM fuel cell pilot plant unit: Experimental and simulation studies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(10), pages 1733-1743.
    6. Pan, Minqiang & Wu, Qiuyu & Jiang, Lianbo & Zeng, Dehuai, 2015. "Effect of microchannel structure on the reaction performance of methanol steam reforming," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 416-427.
    7. Khan, M.J. & Iqbal, M.T., 2005. "Dynamic modeling and simulation of a small wind–fuel cell hybrid energy system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 30(3), pages 421-439.
    8. Purnima, P. & Jayanti, S., 2017. "Water neutrality and waste heat management in ethanol reformer - HTPEMFC integrated system for on-board hydrogen generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 169-179.
    9. Broberg Viklund, Sarah & Karlsson, Magnus, 2015. "Industrial excess heat use: Systems analysis and CO2 emissions reduction," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 189-197.
    10. Lundgren, J. & Ekbom, T. & Hulteberg, C. & Larsson, M. & Grip, C.-E. & Nilsson, L. & Tunå, P., 2013. "Methanol production from steel-work off-gases and biomass based synthesis gas," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 431-439.
    11. Jiang, Xuemei & Guan, Dabo, 2016. "Determinants of global CO2 emissions growth," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 1132-1141.
    12. Holmgren, Kristina M. & Andersson, Eva & Berntsson, Thore & Rydberg, Tomas, 2014. "Gasification-based methanol production from biomass in industrial clusters: Characterisation of energy balances and greenhouse gas emissions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 622-637.
    13. Wang, Hsueh-Sheng & Huang, Kuo-Yang & Huang, Yuh-Jeen & Su, Yu-Chuan & Tseng, Fan-Gang, 2015. "A low-temperature partial-oxidation-methanol micro reformer with high fuel conversion rate and hydrogen production yield," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 21-30.
    14. Ribeirinha, P. & Abdollahzadeh, M. & Boaventura, M. & Mendes, A., 2017. "H2 production with low carbon content via MSR in packed bed membrane reactors for high-temperature polymeric electrolyte membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 409-419.
    15. Ramos-Paja, Carlos Andrés & Spagnuolo, Giovanni & Petrone, Giovanni & Mamarelis, Emilio, 2014. "A perturbation strategy for fuel consumption minimization in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells: Analysis, Design and FPGA implementation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 21-32.
    16. Authayanun, Suthida & Saebea, Dang & Patcharavorachot, Yaneeporn & Arpornwichanop, Amornchai, 2015. "Evaluation of an integrated methane autothermal reforming and high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 331-339.
    17. Liu, Qibin & Hong, Hui & Yuan, Jianli & Jin, Hongguang & Cai, Ruixian, 2009. "Experimental investigation of hydrogen production integrated methanol steam reforming with middle-temperature solar thermal energy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(2), pages 155-162, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jiang, Dongyue & Yang, Wenming & Tang, Aikun, 2016. "A refractory selective solar absorber for high performance thermochemical steam reforming," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 286-292.
    2. Garcia, Gabriel & Arriola, Emmanuel & Chen, Wei-Hsin & De Luna, Mark Daniel, 2021. "A comprehensive review of hydrogen production from methanol thermochemical conversion for sustainability," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    3. Ribeirinha, P. & Abdollahzadeh, M. & Sousa, J.M. & Boaventura, M. & Mendes, A., 2017. "Modelling of a high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell integrated with a methanol steam reformer cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 6-19.
    4. Wu, Wei & Chuang, Bo-Neng & Hwang, Jenn-Jiang & Lin, Chien-Kung & Yang, Shu-Bo, 2019. "Techno-economic evaluation of a hybrid fuel cell vehicle with on-board MeOH-to-H2 processor," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 401-412.
    5. Ribeirinha, P. & Abdollahzadeh, M. & Pereira, A. & Relvas, F. & Boaventura, M. & Mendes, A., 2018. "High temperature PEM fuel cell integrated with a cellular membrane methanol steam reformer: Experimental and modelling," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 659-669.
    6. Cheng, Ze-Dong & Men, Jing-Jing & Liu, Shi-Cheng & He, Ya-Ling, 2019. "Three-dimensional numerical study on a novel parabolic trough solar receiver-reactor of a locally-installed Kenics static mixer for efficient hydrogen production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 131-146.
    7. Pashchenko, Dmitry, 2018. "First law energy analysis of thermochemical waste-heat recuperation by steam methane reforming," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 478-487.
    8. Cho, Mingyu & Kim, Yongtae & Ho Song, Han, 2022. "Solid oxide fuel cell–internal combustion engine hybrid system utilizing an internal combustion engine for anode off-gas recirculation, external reforming, and additional power generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).
    9. Hyunyong Lee & Inchul Jung & Gilltae Roh & Youngseung Na & Hokeun Kang, 2020. "Comparative Analysis of On-Board Methane and Methanol Reforming Systems Combined with HT-PEM Fuel Cell and CO 2 Capture/Liquefaction System for Hydrogen Fueled Ship Application," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-25, January.
    10. Ma, Zhao & Yang, Wei-Wei & Li, Ming-Jia & He, Ya-Ling, 2018. "High efficient solar parabolic trough receiver reactors combined with phase change material for thermochemical reactions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 769-783.
    11. Eyal, Amnon & Tartakovsky, Leonid, 2020. "Second-law analysis of the reforming-controlled compression ignition," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    12. Ha, Chan & Zhou, Zhaozhou & Qin, Jiang & Wang, Cong & Liu, Zekuan & Leng, Shuang, 2024. "Structural optimization calculation of methanol spiral tube reformer based on waste heat utilization and experimental verification of reactor performance," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    13. Wang, Qing-Hui & Yang, Song & Zhou, Wei & Li, Jing-Rong & Xu, Zhi-Jia & Ke, Yu-Zhi & Yu, Wei & Hu, Guang-Hua, 2018. "Optimizing the porosity configuration of porous copper fiber sintered felt for methanol steam reforming micro-reactor based on flow distribution," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 243-261.
    14. Zhang, Tie-qing & Malik, Fawad Rahim & Jung, Seunghun & Kim, Young-Bae, 2022. "Hydrogen production and temperature control for DME autothermal reforming process," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PA).
    15. Holmgren, Kristina M. & Berntsson, Thore S. & Andersson, Eva & Rydberg, Tomas, 2016. "Comparison of integration options for gasification-based biofuel production systems – Economic and greenhouse gas emission implications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 272-294.
    16. Cheng, Ze-Dong & Leng, Ya-Kun & Men, Jing-Jing & He, Ya-Ling, 2020. "Numerical study on a novel parabolic trough solar receiver-reactor and a new control strategy for continuous and efficient hydrogen production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    17. Besseris, George J., 2014. "Using qualimetric engineering and extremal analysis to optimize a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 15-26.
    18. Ribeirinha, P. & Abdollahzadeh, M. & Boaventura, M. & Mendes, A., 2017. "H2 production with low carbon content via MSR in packed bed membrane reactors for high-temperature polymeric electrolyte membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 409-419.
    19. Ma, Zhao & Li, Ming-Jia & He, Ya-Ling & Max Zhang, K., 2020. "Performance analysis and optimization of solar thermochemical reactor by diluting catalyst with encapsulated phase change material," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    20. Wafiq, A. & Hanafy, M., 2015. "Feasibility assessment of diesel fuel production in Egypt using coal and biomass: Integrated novel methodology," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 522-533.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:208:y:2017:i:c:p:703-718. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.