Model for a Polymer Fuel Cell with Diesel Reformer for use in the Integrated Energy Model GES

The TNO Centre of Mechanical Engineering has developed an integrated energy system model called GES, which can be used to do calculations on the complete energy system of electrical ships on efficiency, cost, sizes etc. The ongoing development of fuel cells for vehicle traction makes it possible that fuel cells will come into a stage in the coming years where they will be applied on board of naval ships. Therefore the Royal Netherlands Navy has asked TNO-MEP to supply a model for the fuel cell system using diesel as a fuel. From a literature survey it was concluded that for the polymer fuel cell ample information is available for modelling of the fuel cell, but not for modelling of the processor which is required to convert diesel into hydrogen for the fuel cell. For modelling of the processor, a study of ECN, carried out for the Royal Netherlands Navy on fuel cell systems, has been used. On the basis of a number of changes and additions the results have been made applicable for use in GES. For a fuel cell power range of 1 to 7 MW calculations have been carried out resulting in data for energy and mass flows for the various compounds, as well as volumes for use in GES. Also part load calculations have been performed for these powers. The result of the project is a number of tables describing the behavior and physical data of the fuel cell systems for implementation in GES.