Dynamic performance and control analysis of a turbocharged solid oxide fuel cell for standalone port use and hybrid integration in marine propulsion

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Elkafas, Ahmed G. and Mantelli, Luca and Barberis, Stefano and Rivarolo, Massimo (2026) Dynamic performance and control analysis of a turbocharged solid oxide fuel cell for standalone port use and hybrid integration in marine propulsion. Applied Thermal Engineering, 300 (Part 2). 131352. ISSN 1359-4311 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2026.1313...)

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Abstract

The maritime transport sector faces increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas and local pollutant emissions, particularly in ports and coastal areas subject to stringent regulations. Solid oxide fuel cells are a promising technology due to their high electrical efficiency and fuel flexibility. This study presents a dynamic performance analysis and dedicated control strategy for a turbocharged solid oxide fuel cell system designed for dual-mode marine power system. The innovative system employs a novel anode off-gas management architecture that enables seamless switching between (i) standalone high-efficiency fuel cell operation in port and (ii) a navigation operating mode which allows for the use of fuel cell off-gas in an internal combustion engine. To maximize the energy conversion efficiency of the fuel cell, fuel utilization, steam supply, and anode recirculation must be controlled differently depending on the operating mode of the system. Dynamic modeling was performed in TRANSEO to characterize the system transient behavior and to design optimal control strategies for thermal management, power regulation, and operational mode change. Two independent control loops were designed using Ziegler–Nichols methodology and refined through transient simulations. Model-in-the-loop testing under load variations and mode transitions demonstrated excellent performance: cathode outlet temperature deviations remained below ±4 °C and generated power deviations below ±1 kW, confirming the robustness of the proposed TC-SOFC architecture and control system at a simulation level, providing a foundation for future integrated experimental validation and marine deployment.

ORCID iDs

Elkafas, Ahmed G. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5438-9814, Mantelli, Luca, Barberis, Stefano and Rivarolo, Massimo;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)