Thermodynamic modelling of solid oxide cell used in the generation route of sustainable aviation fuel

• Grant number: 23/14220-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2024
• End date: October 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Thermal Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Caio Henrique Rufino
• Grantee: Davi de Oliveira Camurça
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Mecânica (FEM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Due to the high emission of greenhouse gases from aircraft, it is interesting to evaluate a way to assist in the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in order to reduce the carbon footprint of this sector. Thus, one of the stages of the production of this fuel, which can be generated from biogas using the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis route, will be thermodynamically evaluated. This process involves the transformation of carbon dioxide and water vapor, obtained from biogas, into carbon monoxide and hydrogen, the inputs for the fuel, through a solid oxide electrolytic cell (SOEC). The implementation of this cell is motivated by its high thermal efficiency, although it requires a high operating temperature. Therefore, it is essential to conduct a thermal analysis of its internal processes to ensure proper electrolyzer operation.Within the cell, chemical reduction and equilibrium reactions take place, which will be the focus of modeling in the project. The goal is to analyze the thermal behavior of the cell to evaluate its implementation in a complete SAF generation route. To achieve this objective, a literature review is first conducted to assess different cells and, subsequently, possible thermodynamic models to be implemented. Additionally, data is gathered for the purpose of future validation of the model used in the project.Following this, with the equilibrium and reduction reactions of carbon dioxide and water, the previously studied thermodynamic model is implemented in MATLAB to obtain the correlation between thermal and electrical demands, along with the reaction products. Finally, after validation using data obtained from the literature review, a case study is conducted to prove the concept of the model and use it in future research projects involving other stages of SAF production.