Energetic Macroscopic Representation of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell for Stirling Engine combined cycle in high-efficient powertrains

An Energetic Macroscopic Representation (EMR) is developed for a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) in this paper in order to obtain a model well adapted for combined heat and power cycle. Indeed, this study is a first step before coupling this SOFC to a Stirling Engine (SE). Moreover, by using the EMR approach, the possibilities to develop subsequently so-called Maximum Command Structure (MCS) are simplified. Following a first Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) model established with the EMR formalism, the goal of this study is to adapt this model for SOFC technology and to estimate the heat potential produces by the fuel cell available for the SE hot source. The coupling between the different physical domains encountered in the fuel cell system (fluidic, electrochemical, electrical, and thermal) is represented in a unified manner using the EMR. The final goal of this study is to increase the global electrical efficiency of a coupled SOFC/SE system for automotive applications.