Multiple Ship Integration of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (MultiSchIBZ) within the Framework of the E4ships Innovation Cluster

In the MultiSchIBZ joint project, an SOFC system is being further developed to supply ships' auxiliary units with electrical energy and heat. Low-sulfur marine diesel and, in the future, liquefied natural gas (LNG) are available to the SOFC systems as fuel on seagoing ships. Direct electrochemical energy conversion is expected to result in a significant reduction in nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions compared with conventional energy supply using internal combustion engines, while at the same time lowering CO2 emissions.

On board seagoing ships, several SOFC systems are to be integrated into the on-board power supply system in a decentralized manner. An SOFC system consists of several fuel cell modules and a central process gas module that pre-reforms the fuel with water to H2 and CO and supplies it to the fuel cell modules as anode gas.

System Simulation

The IfT develops a process engineering modular system model for the prediction of permissible operating parameters and load ranges and determines critical system variables as well as the requirements for the equipment design of the process gas module. Based on the validated model, a control concept for the automation of the overall system will be designed at a later stage.

Characterization of Single Cells in Reformate Operation

New solid oxide cell generations are characterized under realistic operating conditions at the IfT's high-temperature test rig. The experimental results are incorporated into the parameterization of the system model. In addition to electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), gas chromatography (GC) is used to investigate the reaction kinetics of internal reforming based on the composition of the anode exhaust gas.

High Temperature Heat Exchanger Development

Due to the limited installation space in the process gas module and the lowest possible heat losses, the heat exchangers must be designed to be as compact as possible while still being reliable in operation. For this purpose, the power density of proven heat exchanger designs is further increased by means of additive manufacturing. The IfT supports the design and optimization of these heat exchangers with a wide range of CFD calculations and carries out experimental investigations of these heat exchangers under conditions close to the application. The results from these investigations are incorporated into the system simulation in order to achieve a higher control quality during subsequent automation.

Project Promotion

The MultiSchIBZ project is part of the National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Innovation Program (NIP) and is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI).