(322b) Fuel Cell System Models for U.S. Navy Shipboard Application

Application of fuel cells for power generation in the Navy and marine environment poses unique challenges. The U.S. Navy, through sponsorship by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), has been pursuing technologies to make Naval fuel cell generator systems a reality for marine applications. A variety of new and innovative technologies are being evaluated to assess performance and ship impact. Modeling and simulation is an effective way of characterizing various technologies and determining their suitability for Naval system application.

This paper describes the modeling and simulation being performed for notional designs of a fuel cell power system for transition to a future Naval combatant. The modeling effort extends from first principles to integration of systems into ship designs. The systems being considered are hybrid Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell and gas turbine generators, with various fuel processing and purification methods, including steam, autothermal and plasma reforming, with membrane based and pressure-swing adsorption hydrogen separation. Fuel pre-treatment, including inorganic sulfur separation membranes, liquid phase de-sulfurization and novel nano-based adsorbents are considered in the overall system evaluation. The models include all aspects of operation in a steady state system, from characterization of fuel through power out, ship interface requirements (air, water, fuel, cooling, exhaust), heat transfer, and mechanical efficiency considerations. Consideration is given to integration of the results into existing shipboard power-generation and distribution dynamic models.