FuelCell Energy Inc is the manufacturer of Direct FuelCell D

FuelCell Energy, Inc. is the manufacturer of Direct FuelCell (DFC) power plants that utilize molten carbonate fuel cells with an electrolyte consisting of potassium and lithium carbonates. The DFC300 is a 300 kW fuel cell power plant that is fueled with natural gas. Consider a DFC300 power plant that is fueled with natural gas that has a lower heating value of 48.3 MJ/kg. Based on the lower heating value of the fuel, the power plant has a heat rate of 7260 Btu/kWhe. The capacity factor of the plant is 97%. The DFC300 is a combined heat and power (CHP) plant which produces 808,000 Btu/h of heat energy at 120 degree F at rated power. Assume natural gas has a carbon content of 75% (wt). c. How much CO_2 is produced per MWh of combined heat and power (kgco2/MWhcHp)?

Solution

DFC 300 Power Plant: Esitmate Carbon Dioxide emission Qunatity Units Power Capacity 300 Kw Capcity factor 0.97 Actual Power Produced 291 Kw Power Plant Heat rate 7260 Btu/KWhr Conversion 1 Kw 3412 Btu/hr Thermal Effiecnecy of Power plant 47.00% CHP produces 808000 Btu/hr 236.8112544 KW 236811.2544 Joules per Sec Heat Produced per hour 852520515.8 Joules per hr Heating Value of Fuel per Kg 48300000 Joules per Kg Fuel Quantity 17.65052828 Kg/hr Fuel Consumed @ Power Plant efficnecy 37.55651679 Kg/hr Percentage Carbon in the fuel 75% % Weight of Carbon in the fuel 28.16738759 Kg/hr From Equation : C + O2 = CO2 from this we get for Every 12 Kg of C burnt, 44 Kg of CO2 is produced Weight of CO2 Produced 103.2804212 Kg/hr Actual power Produced = thoeritical power x efficiency 111.2947658 Kw Weight of CO2 Produced per MW hr = 928.0 Kg/hr