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This project aims to develop and evaluate optimal operating and control strategies for integrated fuel processor – Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) systems, used for in-situ hydrogen production and electricity generation. Solid oxide fuel cells are ceramic electrolyte cells which operate at very high temperatures. As a result, the hot effluent from the fuel cell can provide the heat needed for hydrogen production through an endothermic reforming reaction. 

We  have studied two energy intergated configurations comprising a SOFC, a methane steam reformer and energy transfer units. In the first configuration, the SOFC outlet streams were used directly for energy integration, while in the second, these streams were fed to a catalytic burner for more energy recovery and recycle. The first configuration was shown to become unstable for large changes in current. This is the result of a positive energy feedback loop which results in high temperatures and fuel starvation. A linear multi-loop control strategy was developed for
the entire integrated system. It was shown to be successful in suppressing the instability in the first configuration and to provide satisfactory closed loop responses for a broad range of positive and negative changes in the current.