A high-precision method to measure efficiency of fuel cells with a 0.1% margin of error is proposed. This method is principally divided into two procedures: determining the composition of fuel gas to be fed into a fuel cell system and measuring the flow rate of the fuel gas. The composition of the fuel gas is determined by an FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectrometer) and/or a QMS (quadrapole mass spectrometer) with a built-in sonic nozzle sampling system. The flow rate was measured by the tracer gas method; that is, a given amount of tracer gas, such as one of the noble gases, was introduced into the line of the fuel gas, then, the mixed gas was sampled at the point where the tracer gas had been well mixed, and the concentration of the tracer gas was determined by the QMS. In this paper, a gravimetric calibration method using a highly sensitive balance is also proposed for flow control of the tracer gas. Also proposed are calibration of the FTIR and the QMS to establish the required low uncertainty or high accuracy of the measurement of the efficiency.

Issue Section:
Technology Review
Keywords:
solid oxide fuel cells, flow measurement, Fourier transform spectrometers, infrared spectrometers, flow control, calibration, fuel cell, measurement, tracer gas, mixing gas, calibration, standard
Topics:
Calibration, Flow (Dynamics), Solid oxide fuel cells, Fuel cells, Energy generation, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
1.
Kato
,
K.
,
Amano
,
M.
,
Nozaki
,
K.
,
Negishi
,
A.
,
Kato
,
T.
,
Monma
,
A.
,
Kaga
,
Y.
,
Honda
,
T.
, and
Lan
,
N.
, 2004, “
Development of Precision Efficiency Measurement Technique for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
,”
The 11th FCDIC Fuel Cell Symposium Proceedings
, Vol.
B12
, Fuel Cell Development Information Center, Tokyo, pp.
165
–
168
.
2.
Japan Standard Association
, 2004, “
Test Methods for Performance of Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell Power Facility
,” JIS HB Energy Saving/New Energy—2004, Japanese Standards Association, , Tokyo, TR C0003: 2000.
3.
Japan Standard Association
, 2004, “
Performance Test Methods of Cogeneration Unit
,” JIS HB Energy Saving/New Energy—2004, Japanese Standards Association, Tokyo, JIS B8122: 2001.
4.
Amano
,
M.
, et al., 2005, “
Method of the Calorimetry and Flow Rate Measurement on the Mixed Gas
,” Tokugan 2005-202597.
5.
Mettler-Toledo
, 2004,
Mettler-Toledo PR 1003 Comparator Datasheet
, Mettler-Toledo International Inc.
6.
Kato
,
K.
, et al., 2004, “
Measurement of 1kWSOFC System Flow Rate by Tracer Gas Method
,”
13th Symposium on SOFC in Japan
, pp.
36
–
39
. The Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Society of Japan, Tokyo.
Copyright © 2007
 by American Society of Mechanical Engineers
You do not currently have access to this content.