LIBPF FC

The LIBPF FC (Fuel Cell) module is an extension to LIBPF to support fuel cell and fuel cell system modelling.

You can download a brochure.

The development of this module was supported from Università di Genova's PERT group.

With respect to the detailed list of modelling features or LIBPF CORE, LIBPF FC adds:

• Distributed parameters unit operations: generic multi-stage 2-D unit, with spiral, co-, cross- or counter-flow pattern;

• Fuel cell model with 2 or more streams, each supporting multiple equilibrium or fixed conversion reactions; one or more electrochemical reactions supported.

Modelling Features

• Steady state simulation of fuel cells as well as fuel cell power generation systems

• Detailed 2D simulation of fuel cell, supports co-flow, cross-flow, counter-flow, spiral flow patterns

• Simplified simulation of fuel cell, supports voltage correction maps to reproduce results of detailed model

• Reactive heat exchangers with equilibrium or partial equilibrium reactions

Detailed 2D Simulation of the Fuel Cell

Sample solid temperature field for an industrial-size MCFC (Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell):

Supported flow patterns

The flow pattern of the anode and cathode gases can be set easily using a simple symbology, whereby:

	the blue colour indicates a source is located in the cell
	the red colour indicates a sink is located in the cell
	the arrows indicate the direction of the flow coming out of the cell

An example of cross-flow pattern:

An example of co-cross-flow spiral pattern:

Simulation of fuel cell power generation systems

Static or dynamic simulation of entire fuel cell power generation systems

can  be performed with LIBPF. All key unit operations are modelled, including reactive heat exchangers, compressor, fuel cell; typically with a concentrated parameters approach.

Check the Case study Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell in the Documentation/Whitepaper section of the website and the MCFC-GT (stationary power generation system based on Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells with gas turbine integration) demo in the Process Library for more details.