System-Level Performance Analysis of Integrated Thermal Plasma Reformer and SOFC/GT System Using Greenhouse Gases as Fuels

This paper presents performance analysis of a fuel cell system (FCS) consisting of a thermal plasma reformer (TPR) and a hybrid solid oxide fuel cell and gas turbine (SOFC/GT) system from a system-level viewpoint. This paper also addresses the results of using greenhouse gases (CH4 and CO2) as feedstock to the system. Being non-catalytic reforming, the thermal plasma reforming technique does not pose the problems of sulfur poisoning and carbon deposition. With a lower ratio of H2/CO in the reformate stream, the thermal plasma reforming technique is much preferred to a hybrid SOFC/GT system that exhibits low sensitivity to CO. Through the simulation and analysis of GCtool software, the selected operating condition for the integrated TPR and SOFC/GT system was set at a temperature of 800°C and a CO2/CH4 mole flow rate ratio of 1.25. Additionally, the estimated efficiency of the overall system can achieve up to 48% without considering heat loss as a factor. The application of CO2 reuse contributes to CO fuel production and the reduction of greenhouse emissions from an environmental perspective.