Simulations of Air-Independent Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System for Underwater Applications

To investigate the possibility of solid oxide fuel cell system for the underwater applications, the steady and dynamic analysis of the system were simulated. The fuel cell stack, methanol steam reformer, fuel and oxidant storage, and other balance-of-plants were integrated. The selected reactants were methanol as fuel and liquid oxygen as oxidant. The operation conditions of the fuel cell stack were 480kW power output, the temperature of 950^oC, and the pressure of 2 bar. The dynamic behaviors of the oxygen tank were also examined, including the tank pressure, temperature, and the required heat to vaporize the liquid oxygen. This process simulation results led to derive the required characteristics and performances of the main components for the underwater applications.