Technology Description
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) run at very high temperature (500-1000 degrees Celsius).
This fuel cell has low sensitivity to impurities, thus being able to run with hydrogen, methanol, LNG and diesel. It has a high cost (compared to other fuel cell technologies for maritime applications), can have medium size and has a moderate lifetime. Typical efficiency is 60% and this can be optimised to 85% with heat recovery (source: www.dnvgl.com/maritime/publications/alternative-fuel-assessment-download.html ).
SOFC finds use as a propulsion component in hybrid designs; it operates at high temperatures (about 1000 °C), with sluggish power-setting fluctuations yet achieving great efficiency and enabling cogenerative systems. Due to these factors, SOFCs may act as the main propulsion system in transportation applications requiring high-power, often in hybrid setups with traditional propulsion systems. Large-scale applications, such ships and yachts, may use SOFCs as their main energy source if their sizes are more than 50 kW. Cogeneration applications, which provide electrical and thermal energy in SOFC-based systems, may also be assessed. Potential input fuels include hydrogen, natural gas, and/or diesel. A hybrid system made up of batteries and/or gas turbines is necessary for the SOFC sluggish load shifts.
SOFC can run with methanol, LNG and diesel but in that case external reformer (STR, ATR or POX) has to be used. Also LOHC can be used in marine applications as hydrogen storage.
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