Regression Models Analysis and Optimization of a SOFC SFC 5 kWe Field Unit

The EOS Project carries on an industrial research on Stationary Fuel Cells based on the SOFC technology developed by Siemens Power Generation Stationary Fuel Cells, through a co-operation between TurboCare S.p.A. (a subsidiary of Siemens Power Generation) and Politecnico di Torino. Two SOFC units have been installed and are currently in operation in the TurboCare workshop. The CHP100 generator was commissioned on June 19, 2005, and to date has shown more than 36,000 operating hours at this scale (record availability of 99.5%); the SFC5 alpha6 Generator is in operation since more than 7,000 hours. In the paper the performance of the 5 kW generator are analyzed. First, we have made two experimental analysis of the main variables of the generator with perturbation of the fuel utilization, the generator temperature and the management of the air distribution. Then, the regression models, obtained from the first test campaign and describing the behaviour of the generator, have been used to optimize the system.