![[Translate to :]](/fileadmin/_processed_/e/3/csm_01_24fc555327.png "[Translate to :]")
[Translate to :]
DEVELOPMENT OF A VIRTUAL SOE SYSTEM FOR COELECTROLYSIS OPERATION
High temperature SOECs (Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells) offer a promising solution to climate change byproducing green hydrogen as a renewable energy carrier. Their elevated operating temperatures ensure optimal efficiency in hydrogen production via electrolysis. Furthermore, SOECs are capable of producing syngas from H2O and CO2 in co-electrolysis mode, enabling integration into various chemical synthesis processes, facilitating the efficient production of future fuels. Despite the significant advantages, challenges such as limited lifetime, insufficient system-level studies and high investment costs hinder commercial application. As part of the CoGen project, a virtual SOE system is being developed, combining an electrochemical SOEC model with auxiliary unit simulation models. The electrochemical SOEC model calculates the voltagecurrent
relationship and syngas composition by numerically solving chemical and electrochemical reactions. The virtual SOE system is designed highly modular, enabling fast investigation of different system topologies, thereby enhancing thermal management and the efficiency of the SOE plant.
Different integration scenarios for industrial coupling, including CO2 sources, waste heat and electrical power grid integration, were investigated and a techno-economic analyses was conducted to define potential SOEC integrations, such as for chemical or e-fuel synthesis, which are studied in detail using the virtual SOE-system.
To address the issue of degradation, a degradation matrix has been developed to identify key degradation effects on specific cell components and the impact of operating parameters, particularly gas composition, temperature and electrical power consumption. Degradation models are integrated into the electrochemical SOEC model to investigate long-term effects and identify countermeasures to prevent lifetime-limiting conditions.
The electrochemical SOEC model has been validated for various cell configurations through literature and single-cell tests conducted within the project. Concurrently, models for auxiliary units have been tested and validated against literature and will be re-iterated with experimental results once available from stack construction and startup tests.
Impact and effects
The newly developed virtual SOE-system can be used to study SOEC performance from single-cell to system level across various operating conditions, including degradation. In the CoGen project, it will be employed to develop operating strategies for safe, highly efficient SOEC operation. System dynamics such as startup, shutdown and load changes are assessed and optimised to extend the system’s lifetime. The virtual SOE system allows for system layout and thermal management optimisations, ensuring maximum efficiency from system design to operation strategy development, considering different industry integration and power grid scenarios. The results from this virtual optimization will be directly utilized within CoGen, where a ~6kW SOEC stack is developed and constructed. Through iterative validation and optimization, both real-world and the virtual SOE-system will be employed to enhance performance and assist in commercialisation of SOEC-technology, thereby contributing to tackle climate change.
Project partner
- Andritz AG, AUT
- Energienetze Steiermark, AUT
- OMV Downstream, AUT
- Miba, AUT
- Technical University of Graz (IWT, ITnA), AUT