Control Performance Study on the Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Hybrid Systems

Abstract

The intention of this work is to investigate the control characteristics of molten carbonate fuel cell hybrid systems through dynamic simulation. Because of the complexity and interaction between different components in the hybrid systems, several parameters, such as the turbine rotational speed, the temperatures within the fuel cell, the differential pressure between the anodic and the cathodic side, and the steam-to-carbon ratio, need to be monitored and kept within safe limits. On the other hand, the system response to load variations is required to be as quick as possible in order to meet the energy demand. Several control loops were introduced into the hybrid system. This paper focuses on the control performance to regulate the net electrical power from the hybrid system, avoiding malfunctions or damage. The results for several operating conditions are presented and discussed.