Numerical analysis of a solid oxide fuel cell system integrated with a hybrid desiccant cooling system.

• Solid oxide fuel cell system integrated with hybrid desiccant cooling is proposed. • Numerical analysis of two system were performed at three climatic conditions. • System optimization for design and operational strategy is achieved. • System without burner at load following mode has the highest electrical efficiency. • System with burner at load following mode has the highest total efficiency. Solid oxide fuel cell systems are advantageous in distributed power generation and are commonly utilized in residential buildings. However, since commercialized small-scale solid oxide fuel cells generally produce hot water using high-temperature exhaust gas, it is difficult to utilize thermal energy in high-temperature areas and during the summer. The exhaust heat from the solid oxide fuel cell system can be effectively utilized by integration with the hybrid desiccant cooling system. In this study, a numerical model of a solid oxide fuel cell system integrated with a hybrid desiccant cooling system has been developed to determine the optimal system configuration and operating strategy. As for the Hot-dry, Hot-humid, and Mixed-humid, which are representative climatic conditions of summer in the United States, were selected. The system model has been simulated at a period of the highest electrical demand in a year with each climate. The solid oxide fuel cell-hybrid desiccant cooling system model has been simulated to compare the system efficiency at 4 case. The simulation results show that the solid oxide fuel cell-hybrid desiccant cooling system without a burner has the highest total efficiency of 77.7 % and the highest total coefficient of performance of 1.528 under electric load following operation. This study can provide the basic insight to establish the parametric analysis and control strategy in integrating the solid oxide fuel cell system and the desiccant cooling system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]