Simulation and exergetic evaluation of CO2 capture in a solid-oxide fuel-cell combined-cycle power plant

The incorporation of fuel cells into power plants can enhance the operational efficiency and facilitate the separation and capture of emissions. In this paper a fuel-cell unit, consisting of solid-oxide fuel-cell stacks, a pre-reformer, and an afterburner is incorporated into a combined-cycle power plant with CO2 capture. The thermodynamic performance of the plant is examined using an exergetic analysis and it is compared with a conventional combined-cycle power plant (reference plant) without CO2 capture, as well as with other plants with CO2 capture.