One of the most promising application for fuel cells and, in particular, for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells is cogeneration of heat and power from natural gas and biogas. In particular, due to high efficiency also at small scale of SOFC, microCHP is a promising market for the development of the technology. Research activity is focused on system design and integration based on experimental results of components such as SOFC stack, reformer and desulphurizer. New design were proposed with the aim of increasing efficiencies.

[expander_maker id=”13″ more=”Read more about CHP” less=”Close”]

Design and off design operation were studied to evaluate electrical and thermal performances. System integration strategies were also studied to evaluate economic feasibility of the system. Cogeneration application were considered in several cases such as residential buildings, commercial application, industrial process integration like biogas production.

Study of different type of fuel for the high temperature fuel cell (MFCF and SOFC) is one of the main topic where FCLab is engaged in research.

Study of different type of fuel for the high temperature fuel cell (MFCF and SOFC) is one of the main topic where FCLab is engaged in research. The high temperature fuel cells otherwise the low temperature fuel cells can be feed as well as hydrogen with different mix of hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
In FCLab we study the cell performance and the endurance when are feeding by: biogas, landfill gas, coke oven gas, pyrogas, syngas, methane, methanol and ammonia. These types of gas, often, are waste gas in the industrial process then they are a cost in term of greenhouse gas emission. These types of fuel cell, that can be feeding with this type of gas, could be used to increase the plant use of fuel and to reduce the GHG emission with gain for the companies.
The goal of our research is try to understand which are the real performance of the cells or the stack feeding by these gas and which are the main problem due by this.

[expander_maker id=”12″ more=”Read more about Fuels” less=”Close”]

[/expander_maker]

Fuel Cell can operate also in some specific conditions in terms of temperature, gas supply and electric load. To guarantee this specifics to the fuel cell an entire system and several components has to be integrated on this particular requirements. One of the most crucial aspect for fuel cell development is availability of low cost components for system integration. The system can be divided in three main parts: fuel processing, fuel cell and heat balance. The definition of the target is related with fuel cell specifics while the technology to reach that target is demanded to system design and innovative or standard technology. For example heat exchanger have to be integrated in the system but the specific gas, temperatures and dimensions require development of innovative design and materials. This is why all fuel cell system permits the development of the all component supply chain in the difficult target of satisfying all system requirements. Moreover the system has to be balanced and controlled following system control logic and the specific application conditions.