Energy and Exergy Analyses of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell-Gas Turbine-Organic Rankine Cycle Power Plant with Liquefied Natural Gas as Heat Sink

An exergy analysis of a novel integrated power system is represented in this study. A Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC), which has been assisted with a Gas Turbine (GT) and Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) by employing liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a heat sink in a combined power system is simulated and investigated. Initially in this paper, the integrated power system and the primary concepts of the simulation are described. Subsequently, results of the simulation, exergy analysis, and composite curves of heat exchangers are represented and discussed. The equations of the exergy efficiency and destruction for the main cycle’s units such as compressors, expanders, pumps, evaporators, condensers, reformers, and reactors are presented. According to the results, the highest exergy destruction is contributed to the SOFC reactor, despite its acceptable exergy efficiency which is equal to 75.7%. Moreover, the exergy efficiencies of the ORC cycle and the whole plant are determined to be 64.9% and 39.9%, respectively. It is worth noting that the rational efficiency of the integrated power system is 53.5%. Among all units, the exergy efficiency of the LNG pump is determined to be 11.7% the lowest exergy efficiency among the other investigated components, indicating a great potential for improvements.