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The research activities focus on Energy Saving, improvement of Energy efficiency of conventional power plants, novel plant configurations for power generation and poly-generation based on low environmental impact and high efficiency technologies (High and Low temperature Fuel Cells, HT-PEMFC, ammonia SOFC, hydrogen), technologies for hydrogen production and storage in refuelling stations; hydrogen production by reforming systems for stationary or mobile application, Power to gas technologies (H2 and SNG plants), biomass gasification, plasma gasification technologies for wastes treatment. The methodologies common to each research field involve the state of art analysis, the use of experimental techniques, the use of thermodynamic and thermochemical modeling techniques and optimization processes.
Power to gas (PtG) is an emerging technology that allows to overcome the issues due to the increasingly widespread use of intermittent renewable energy sources (IRES). Via water electrolysis, power surplus on the electric grid is converted into hydrogen or into synthetic natural gas (SNG) that can be directly injected in the natural gas network for long-term energy storage. The core units of the Power to synthetic natural gas (PtSNG) plant are the electrolyzer and the methanation reactors where the renewable electrolytic hydrogen is converted to synthetic natural gas by adding carbon dioxide. A technical issue of the PtSNG plant is the different dynamics of the electrolysis unit and the methanation unit. The use of a hydrogen storage system can help to decouple these two subsystems and to manage the methanation unit for assuring long operation time and reducing the number of shutdowns. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the energy storage potential and the technical feasibility of the PtSNG concept to store intermittent renewable sources. Therefore, different plant sizes (1, 3, and 6 MW) have been defined and investigated by varying the ratio between the renewable electric energy sent to the plant and the total electric energy generated by the renewable energy source (RES) facility based on a 12 MW wind farm. The analysis has been carried out by developing a thermochemical and electrochemical model and a dynamic model. The first allows to predict the plant performance in steady state. The second allows to forecast the annual performance and the operation time of the plant by implementing the control strategy of the storage unit. The annual overall efficiencies are in the range of 42–44% low heating value (LHV basis). The plant load factor, i.e., the ratio between the annual chemical energy of the produced SNG and the plant capacity, results equal to 60.0%, 46.5%, and 35.4% for 1, 3, and 6 MW PtSNG sizes, respectively.
Alessandra Perna; Linda Moretti; Giorgio Ficco; Giuseppe Spazzafumo; Laura Canale; Marco Dell’Isola. SNG Generation via Power to Gas Technology: Plant Design and Annual Performance Assessment. Applied Sciences 2020, 10, 8443 .
AMA StyleAlessandra Perna, Linda Moretti, Giorgio Ficco, Giuseppe Spazzafumo, Laura Canale, Marco Dell’Isola. SNG Generation via Power to Gas Technology: Plant Design and Annual Performance Assessment. Applied Sciences. 2020; 10 (23):8443.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlessandra Perna; Linda Moretti; Giorgio Ficco; Giuseppe Spazzafumo; Laura Canale; Marco Dell’Isola. 2020. "SNG Generation via Power to Gas Technology: Plant Design and Annual Performance Assessment." Applied Sciences 10, no. 23: 8443.
This paper presents the economic assessment of novel refueling stations, in which through advanced and high efficiency technologies, the polygeneration of more energy services like hydrogen, electricity and heat is carried out on-site. The architecture of these polygeneration plants is realized with a modular structure, organized in more sections. The primary energy source is ammonia that represents an interesting fuel for producing more energy streams. The ammonia feeds directly the SOFC that is able to co-generate simultaneously electricity and hydrogen by coupling a high efficiency energy system with hydrogen chemical storage. Two system configurations have been proposed considering different design concepts: in the first case (Concept_1) the plant is sized for producing 100 kg/day of hydrogen and the power section is sized also for self-sustaining the plant electric power consumption, while in the second one (Concept_2) the plant is sized for producing 100 kg/day of hydrogen and the power section is sized for self-sustaining the plant electric power consumption and for generating 50 kW for the DC fast charging. The economic analysis has been carried out in the current and target scenarios, by evaluating, the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH), the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), the Profitability Index (PI), Internal rate of Return (IRR) and the Discounted Payback Period (DPP). Results have highlighted that the values of the LCOH, for the proposed configurations and economic scenarios, are in the range 6–10 €/kg and the values of the LCOE range from 0.447 €/kWh to 0.242 €/kWh. In terms of PI and IRR, the best performance is achieved in the Concept_1 for the current scenario (1.89 and 8.0%, respectively). On the contrary, in the target scenario, thanks to a drastic costs reduction the co-production of hydrogen and electricity as useful outputs, becomes the best choice from all economic indexes and parameters considered.
Mariagiovanna Minutillo; Alessandra Perna; Pasquale Di Trolio; Simona Di Micco; Elio Jannelli. Techno-economics of novel refueling stations based on ammonia-to-hydrogen route and SOFC technology. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2020, 46, 10059 -10071.
AMA StyleMariagiovanna Minutillo, Alessandra Perna, Pasquale Di Trolio, Simona Di Micco, Elio Jannelli. Techno-economics of novel refueling stations based on ammonia-to-hydrogen route and SOFC technology. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2020; 46 (16):10059-10071.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMariagiovanna Minutillo; Alessandra Perna; Pasquale Di Trolio; Simona Di Micco; Elio Jannelli. 2020. "Techno-economics of novel refueling stations based on ammonia-to-hydrogen route and SOFC technology." International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 46, no. 16: 10059-10071.
Mariagiovanna Minutillo; Alessandra Perna; Alessandro Sorce. Combined hydrogen, heat and electricity generation via biogas reforming: Energy and economic assessments. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2019, 44, 23880 -23898.
AMA StyleMariagiovanna Minutillo, Alessandra Perna, Alessandro Sorce. Combined hydrogen, heat and electricity generation via biogas reforming: Energy and economic assessments. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2019; 44 (43):23880-23898.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMariagiovanna Minutillo; Alessandra Perna; Alessandro Sorce. 2019. "Combined hydrogen, heat and electricity generation via biogas reforming: Energy and economic assessments." International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 44, no. 43: 23880-23898.
Alessandra Perna; Mariagiovanna Minutillo; Elio Jannelli; Viviana Cigolotti; Suk Woo Nam; Kyung Joong Yoon. Performance assessment of a hybrid SOFC/MGT cogeneration power plant fed by syngas from a biomass down-draft gasifier. Applied Energy 2018, 227, 80 -91.
AMA StyleAlessandra Perna, Mariagiovanna Minutillo, Elio Jannelli, Viviana Cigolotti, Suk Woo Nam, Kyung Joong Yoon. Performance assessment of a hybrid SOFC/MGT cogeneration power plant fed by syngas from a biomass down-draft gasifier. Applied Energy. 2018; 227 ():80-91.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlessandra Perna; Mariagiovanna Minutillo; Elio Jannelli; Viviana Cigolotti; Suk Woo Nam; Kyung Joong Yoon. 2018. "Performance assessment of a hybrid SOFC/MGT cogeneration power plant fed by syngas from a biomass down-draft gasifier." Applied Energy 227, no. : 80-91.
Mariagiovanna Minutillo; Fabio Flagiello; Rosa Anna Nastro; Pasquale Di Trolio; Elio Jannelli; Alessandra Perna. Performance of two different types of cathodes in microbial fuel cells for power generation from renewable sources. Energy Procedia 2018, 148, 1129 -1134.
AMA StyleMariagiovanna Minutillo, Fabio Flagiello, Rosa Anna Nastro, Pasquale Di Trolio, Elio Jannelli, Alessandra Perna. Performance of two different types of cathodes in microbial fuel cells for power generation from renewable sources. Energy Procedia. 2018; 148 ():1129-1134.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMariagiovanna Minutillo; Fabio Flagiello; Rosa Anna Nastro; Pasquale Di Trolio; Elio Jannelli; Alessandra Perna. 2018. "Performance of two different types of cathodes in microbial fuel cells for power generation from renewable sources." Energy Procedia 148, no. : 1129-1134.
Alessandra Perna; Mariagiovanna Minutillo; Elio Jannelli. Designing and analyzing an electric energy storage system based on reversible solid oxide cells. Energy Conversion and Management 2018, 159, 381 -395.
AMA StyleAlessandra Perna, Mariagiovanna Minutillo, Elio Jannelli. Designing and analyzing an electric energy storage system based on reversible solid oxide cells. Energy Conversion and Management. 2018; 159 ():381-395.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlessandra Perna; Mariagiovanna Minutillo; Elio Jannelli. 2018. "Designing and analyzing an electric energy storage system based on reversible solid oxide cells." Energy Conversion and Management 159, no. : 381-395.
The waste to energy (WtE) facilities and the renewable energy storage systems have a strategic role in the promotion of the "eco-innovation", an emerging priority in the European Union. This paper aims to propose advanced plant configurations in which waste to energy plants and electric energy storage systems from intermittent renewable sources are combined for obtaining more efficient and clean energy solutions in accordance with the "eco-innovation" approach. The advanced plant configurations consist of an electric energy storage (EES) section based on a solid oxide electrolyzer (SOEC), a waste gasification section based on the plasma technology and a power generation section based on a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The plant configurations differ for the utilization of electrolytic hydrogen and oxygen in the plasma gasification section and in the power generation section. In the first plant configuration IAPGFC (Integrated Air Plasma Gasification Fuel Cell), the renewable oxygen enriches the air stream, that is used as plasma gas in the gasification section, and the renewable hydrogen is used to enrich the anodic stream of the SOFC in the power generation section. In the second plant configuration IHPGFC (Integrated Hydrogen Plasma Gasification Fuel Cell) the renewable hydrogen is used as plasma gas in the plasma gasification section, and the renewable oxygen is used to enrich the cathodic stream of the SOFC in the power generation section. The analysis has been carried out by using numerical models for predicting and comparing the systems performances in terms of electric efficiency and capability in realizing the waste to energy and the electric energy storage of renewable sources. Results have highlighted that the electric efficiency is very high for all configurations (35-45%) and, thanks to the combination with the waste to energy technology, the storage efficiencies are very attractive (in the range 72-92%).
Alessandra Perna; Mariagiovanna Minutillo; Antonio Lubrano Lavadera; Elio Jannelli. Combining plasma gasification and solid oxide cell technologies in advanced power plants for waste to energy and electric energy storage applications. Waste Management 2018, 73, 424 -438.
AMA StyleAlessandra Perna, Mariagiovanna Minutillo, Antonio Lubrano Lavadera, Elio Jannelli. Combining plasma gasification and solid oxide cell technologies in advanced power plants for waste to energy and electric energy storage applications. Waste Management. 2018; 73 ():424-438.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlessandra Perna; Mariagiovanna Minutillo; Antonio Lubrano Lavadera; Elio Jannelli. 2018. "Combining plasma gasification and solid oxide cell technologies in advanced power plants for waste to energy and electric energy storage applications." Waste Management 73, no. : 424-438.
Mariagiovanna Minutillo; Alessandra Perna; Elio Jannelli; Viviana Cigolotti; Suk Woo Nam; Sung Pil Yoon; Byeong Wan Kwon. Coupling of Biomass Gasification and SOFC – Gas Turbine Hybrid System for Small Scale Cogeneration Applications. Energy Procedia 2017, 105, 730 -737.
AMA StyleMariagiovanna Minutillo, Alessandra Perna, Elio Jannelli, Viviana Cigolotti, Suk Woo Nam, Sung Pil Yoon, Byeong Wan Kwon. Coupling of Biomass Gasification and SOFC – Gas Turbine Hybrid System for Small Scale Cogeneration Applications. Energy Procedia. 2017; 105 ():730-737.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMariagiovanna Minutillo; Alessandra Perna; Elio Jannelli; Viviana Cigolotti; Suk Woo Nam; Sung Pil Yoon; Byeong Wan Kwon. 2017. "Coupling of Biomass Gasification and SOFC – Gas Turbine Hybrid System for Small Scale Cogeneration Applications." Energy Procedia 105, no. : 730-737.
Alessandra Perna; M. Minutillo; S.P. Cicconardi; E. Jannelli; S. Scarfogliero. Performance Assessment of Electric Energy Storage (EES) Systems Based on Reversible Solid Oxide Cell. Energy Procedia 2016, 101, 1087 -1094.
AMA StyleAlessandra Perna, M. Minutillo, S.P. Cicconardi, E. Jannelli, S. Scarfogliero. Performance Assessment of Electric Energy Storage (EES) Systems Based on Reversible Solid Oxide Cell. Energy Procedia. 2016; 101 ():1087-1094.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlessandra Perna; M. Minutillo; S.P. Cicconardi; E. Jannelli; S. Scarfogliero. 2016. "Performance Assessment of Electric Energy Storage (EES) Systems Based on Reversible Solid Oxide Cell." Energy Procedia 101, no. : 1087-1094.
In this paper the integration of the energy production from programmable (biomass, waste) and not programmable (solar, wind) renewable sources is examined as an opportunity for increasing the share of electricity from renewable power plants, in order to overcome the major obstacles to their extensive penetration into the grid. The integration is performed by using hydrogen from intermittent renewable energy powered-electrolysis as gasification medium in conventional or advanced gasification systems for the waste treatment. The proposed integrated energy system consists of three main sections: i) the hydrogen production island; ii) the gasification island; iii) the power island. The assessment of the system performance has been conducted by considering two gasification technologies: hydro- gasification and hydro-plasma gasification. The performances comparison has been carried out in terms of syngas composition, energy consumptions and electric efficiency. Results have pointed out that the electric efficiencies of the integrated energy systems are in the range of 40% and 43%.\ud Furthermore, it is found that by combining the storage of intermittent renewable energy sources with a waste gasification combined cycle power plant it is possible to achieve better performance with respect to the performance that can be obtained by storage and waste to energy systems operating separately
Alessandra Perna; Mariagiovanna Minutillo; Elio Jannelli. Hydrogen from intermittent renewable energy sources as gasification medium in integrated waste gasification combined cycle power plants: A performance comparison. Energy 2016, 94, 457 -465.
AMA StyleAlessandra Perna, Mariagiovanna Minutillo, Elio Jannelli. Hydrogen from intermittent renewable energy sources as gasification medium in integrated waste gasification combined cycle power plants: A performance comparison. Energy. 2016; 94 ():457-465.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlessandra Perna; Mariagiovanna Minutillo; Elio Jannelli. 2016. "Hydrogen from intermittent renewable energy sources as gasification medium in integrated waste gasification combined cycle power plants: A performance comparison." Energy 94, no. : 457-465.
In this paper conventional and advanced biomass gasification power plants designed for small cogeneration application are defined. The CHP plants consist of a gasification unit, that employs a downdraft gasifier, and a power unit based on a microturbine in the case of conventional configuration, and on a solid oxide fuel cell module, in the case of advanced configuration. The plants are sized to supply about 100 kW of electrical power. In order to investigate and to analyze the performances of the two plant configurations, in terms of thermal and electrical efficiencies, numerical models have been developed by using thermochemical and thermodynamic codes.
A. Perna; M. Minutillo; S.P. Cicconardi; E. Jannelli; S. Scarfogliero. Conventional and Advanced Biomass Gasification Power Plants Designed for Cogeneration Purpose. Energy Procedia 2015, 82, 687 -694.
AMA StyleA. Perna, M. Minutillo, S.P. Cicconardi, E. Jannelli, S. Scarfogliero. Conventional and Advanced Biomass Gasification Power Plants Designed for Cogeneration Purpose. Energy Procedia. 2015; 82 ():687-694.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA. Perna; M. Minutillo; S.P. Cicconardi; E. Jannelli; S. Scarfogliero. 2015. "Conventional and Advanced Biomass Gasification Power Plants Designed for Cogeneration Purpose." Energy Procedia 82, no. : 687-694.
Energy systems based on fuel cells technology can have a strategic role in the range of small-size power generation for the sustainable energy development.\ud In order to enhance their performance, it is possible to recover the “waste heat” from the fuel cells, for producing or thermal power (cogeneration systems) or further electric power by means of a bottoming power cycle (combined systems).\ud In this work an advanced system based on the integration between a HT-PEMFC (high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell) power unit and an ORC (organic Rankine cycle) plant, has been proposed and analysed as suitable energy power plant for supplying electric and thermal energies to a stand-alone residential utility.\ud The system can operate both as cogeneration system, in which the electric and thermal loads are satisfied by the HT-PEMFC power unit and as electric generation system, in which the low temperature heat recovered from the fuel cells is used as energy source in the ORC plant for increasing the electric power production.\ud A numerical model, able to characterize the behavior and to predict the performance of the HT-PEMFC/ ORC system under different working conditions, has been developed by using the AspenPlusTM code
Alessandra Perna; Mariagiovanna Minutillo; Elio Jannelli. Investigations on an advanced power system based on a high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell and an organic Rankine cycle for heating and power production. Energy 2015, 88, 874 -884.
AMA StyleAlessandra Perna, Mariagiovanna Minutillo, Elio Jannelli. Investigations on an advanced power system based on a high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell and an organic Rankine cycle for heating and power production. Energy. 2015; 88 ():874-884.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlessandra Perna; Mariagiovanna Minutillo; Elio Jannelli. 2015. "Investigations on an advanced power system based on a high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell and an organic Rankine cycle for heating and power production." Energy 88, no. : 874-884.
This paper deals with a system-level modelling for the performance prediction of power units based on fuel cells that are designed to work witha syngas or with a fuel that can contain CO, such as HT-PEMFCs, MCFCs and SOFCs. The model solves mass and energy balances and allows to estimate the polarization curves by applying mathematical equations that take into account the different type of fuel cell. The empirical coefficients of the model equations have been tuned by using available experimental data.
Mariagiovanna Minutillo; Alessandra Perna; Stefano Ubertini. Development of a system-level model for fuel cell power units operated with syngas. PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NUMERICAL ANALYSIS AND APPLIED MATHEMATICS 2014 (ICNAAM-2014) 2015, 1648, 570008 .
AMA StyleMariagiovanna Minutillo, Alessandra Perna, Stefano Ubertini. Development of a system-level model for fuel cell power units operated with syngas. PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NUMERICAL ANALYSIS AND APPLIED MATHEMATICS 2014 (ICNAAM-2014). 2015; 1648 ():570008.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMariagiovanna Minutillo; Alessandra Perna; Stefano Ubertini. 2015. "Development of a system-level model for fuel cell power units operated with syngas." PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NUMERICAL ANALYSIS AND APPLIED MATHEMATICS 2014 (ICNAAM-2014) 1648, no. : 570008.
M. Minutillo; A. Perna; E. Jannelli. SOFC and MCFC system level modeling for hybrid plants performance prediction. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2014, 39, 21688 -21699.
AMA StyleM. Minutillo, A. Perna, E. Jannelli. SOFC and MCFC system level modeling for hybrid plants performance prediction. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2014; 39 (36):21688-21699.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Minutillo; A. Perna; E. Jannelli. 2014. "SOFC and MCFC system level modeling for hybrid plants performance prediction." International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 39, no. 36: 21688-21699.
M. Minutillo; Alessandra Perna. Renewable energy storage system via coal hydrogasification with co-production of electricity and synthetic natural gas. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2014, 39, 5793 -5803.
AMA StyleM. Minutillo, Alessandra Perna. Renewable energy storage system via coal hydrogasification with co-production of electricity and synthetic natural gas. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2014; 39 (11):5793-5803.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Minutillo; Alessandra Perna. 2014. "Renewable energy storage system via coal hydrogasification with co-production of electricity and synthetic natural gas." International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 39, no. 11: 5793-5803.
Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generation is considered an interesting energy conversion system because converts thermal energy into electrical energy without mechanically moving parts. In an MHD generator, a thermal plasma is moving across a magnetic field generating electric power. The heat source required to produce the high-speed gas flow can be supplied by the combustion of a fossil fuel or by using renewable source such as solar energy.The MHD efficiency is usually less than the conventional energy conversion systems (i.e. gas turbine combined cycle, steam power plant) but the availability of thermal power at high temperature can allow plant configurations with high overall efficiency. In this paper two plant configurations based on open-cycle MHD generators fed with coal are presented. The first one is a conventional configuration in which the plasma gas is the products of direct combustion of coal. The second one can be considered an advanced type because the working fluid is the combustion exhausts of syngas generated from coal gasification. In order to evaluate the energy suitability of the proposed systems, a performance analysis has been carried out by means of numerical modeling. Therefore, the operating conditions and the plant configurations for an efficient recovery of the thermal energy available from the MHD exhausts have been defined by a sensitivity analysis carried out varying the preheating temperature of air (or enriched air) sent to the combustion chamber.Resultsshow that high system efficiencies (up to 60%) can be achieved by using the syngas due to a better heat recovery in the high temperature region
Salvatore P. Cicconardi; Alessandra Perna. Performance Analysis of Integrated Systems based on MHD Generators. Energy Procedia 2014, 45, 1305 -1314.
AMA StyleSalvatore P. Cicconardi, Alessandra Perna. Performance Analysis of Integrated Systems based on MHD Generators. Energy Procedia. 2014; 45 ():1305-1314.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSalvatore P. Cicconardi; Alessandra Perna. 2014. "Performance Analysis of Integrated Systems based on MHD Generators." Energy Procedia 45, no. : 1305-1314.
This paper focuses on the performance analysis of microcogeneration systems based on the integration between a reforming unit (RFU), consisting of a natural gas steam reforming, and a power unit, based on the PEM fuel cell technology. The analysis has been carried out considering, as power unit, three different PEM fuel cells: a low temperature PEM fuel cell with Nafion™ membrane (LT-FC) operating at 67. °C, a high temperature PEM fuel cell with a membrane based on polybenzimidazole material doped with phosphoric acid (HT-FC1) operating at 160. °C, and a high temperature PEM fuel cell that uses aromatic polyether polymers/copolymers bearing pyridine units doped with phosphoric acid as electrolyte (HT-FC2) operating at 180. °C.The study has been conducted by using numerical models tuned by experimental data measured in test benches developed at University of Cassino.For sizing the power units able to provide a maximum electric power of 2.5. kW (this size allows to satisfy the electric and thermal energy demand of an Italian household), two designing criteria have been considered.Results have shown that the integrated systems based on the HT-FCs are characterized by high electric efficiency (40%) and cogeneration efficiency (79%).Moreover, the thermal power recovered decreases with the stacks operating temperature, thus the highest cogeneration efficiency (80%) is obtained by the microcogeneration system based on low temperature fuel cells. However, the availability of high temperature heat makes the HT-FC an attractive solution for the cogeneration/trigeneration systems development. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd
Elio Jannelli; Mariagiovanna Minutillo; Alessandra Perna. Analyzing microcogeneration systems based on LT-PEMFC and HT-PEMFC by energy balances. Applied Energy 2013, 108, 82 -91.
AMA StyleElio Jannelli, Mariagiovanna Minutillo, Alessandra Perna. Analyzing microcogeneration systems based on LT-PEMFC and HT-PEMFC by energy balances. Applied Energy. 2013; 108 ():82-91.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElio Jannelli; Mariagiovanna Minutillo; Alessandra Perna. 2013. "Analyzing microcogeneration systems based on LT-PEMFC and HT-PEMFC by energy balances." Applied Energy 108, no. : 82-91.
Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is regarded as a potential future power technology for stationary and mobile applications due to its high efficiency (full and partial load), rapid start‐up, high power density, and low emissions. Depending on their particular application field (decentralized combined heat and power production, uninterrupted power supplies (UPS), or mobile applications) different operating conditions and designing parameters are required and different performance can be expected. Thus, the aim of this paper is to investigate the behavior and performance of two stacks of the same size, developed with a different approach according to their application sectors. The first PEMFC stack is designed for UPS units or mobile purpose, the second one, is designed to supply heat and power in residential applications (CHP units). The analysis of the stacks behavior has been carried out by using both experimental and numerical investigations. Experimental results have allowed: (i) to characterize the stacks; (ii) to calibrate the numerical model; (iii) to supply useful data for setting and improving the control system.
Elio Jannelli; M. Minutillo; Alessandra Perna. Experimental Characterization and Numerical Modeling of PEMFC Stacks Designed for Different Application Fields. Fuel Cells 2011, 11, 838 -849.
AMA StyleElio Jannelli, M. Minutillo, Alessandra Perna. Experimental Characterization and Numerical Modeling of PEMFC Stacks Designed for Different Application Fields. Fuel Cells. 2011; 11 (6):838-849.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElio Jannelli; M. Minutillo; Alessandra Perna. 2011. "Experimental Characterization and Numerical Modeling of PEMFC Stacks Designed for Different Application Fields." Fuel Cells 11, no. 6: 838-849.
The development of fuel cells is promised to enable the distributed generation of electricity in the near future. However, the infrastructure for production and distribution of hydrogen, the fuel of choice for fuel cells, is currently lacking. Efficient production of hydrogen from fuels that have existing infrastructure (e.g., natural gas, gasoline or LPG) would remove a major drawback to use fuel cells for distributed power generation. The aim of this paper is to define the better operating conditions of an innovative hydrogen generation system (the fuel processing system, FP) based on LPG steam reforming, equipped with a membrane shift reactor, and integrated with a PEMFC (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell) stack of 5 kWel. With respect to the conventional hydrogen generation systems, the use of membrane reactors (MRs) technology allows to increase the hydrogen generation and to simplify the FP-PEMFC plant, because the CO removal system, needed to reduce the CO content at levels required by the PEMFC, is avoided. Therefore, in order to identify the optimal operating conditions of the FP-PEMFC system, a sensitivity analysis on the fuel processing system has been carried out by varying the main operating parameters of both the reforming reactor and the membrane water gas shift reactor. The sensitivity analysis has been performed by means of a thermochemical model properly developed. Results show that the thermal efficiency of the fuel processing system is maximize (82.4%, referred to the HHV of fuels) at a reforming temperature of 800 °C, a reforming pressure of 8 bar, and an S/C molar ratio equal to 6. In the nominal operating condition of the PEMFC stack, the FP-PEMFC system efficiency is 36.1% (39.0% respect to the LHV).
A. Perna; S.P. Cicconardi; R. Cozzolino. Performance evaluation of a fuel processing system based on membrane reactors technology integrated with a PEMFC stack. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2011, 36, 9906 -9915.
AMA StyleA. Perna, S.P. Cicconardi, R. Cozzolino. Performance evaluation of a fuel processing system based on membrane reactors technology integrated with a PEMFC stack. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2011; 36 (16):9906-9915.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA. Perna; S.P. Cicconardi; R. Cozzolino. 2011. "Performance evaluation of a fuel processing system based on membrane reactors technology integrated with a PEMFC stack." International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 36, no. 16: 9906-9915.
R. Cozzolino; S.P. Cicconardi; E. Galloni; M. Minutillo; A. Perna. Theoretical and experimental investigations on thermal management of a PEMFC stack. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2011, 36, 8030 -8037.
AMA StyleR. Cozzolino, S.P. Cicconardi, E. Galloni, M. Minutillo, A. Perna. Theoretical and experimental investigations on thermal management of a PEMFC stack. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2011; 36 (13):8030-8037.
Chicago/Turabian StyleR. Cozzolino; S.P. Cicconardi; E. Galloni; M. Minutillo; A. Perna. 2011. "Theoretical and experimental investigations on thermal management of a PEMFC stack." International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 36, no. 13: 8030-8037.