The scope of the present case study was double: firstly, it intends to verify the feasibility, specially in terms of costs, of a project of energy recovery from landfill gas using molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs). Secondly, it presents a rational evaluation criterion to choose, from several project alternatives, the best in economic and environmental terms. Among the various fuel cell technologies, the most appropriate for stationary applications in the power range 200 kW to l MW are the phosphoric acid (PA FC), the MCFC and the solid oxide (SOFC) fuel cells. The first one (PAFC) is the most mature ofthe three and the third (SOFC) the most promising in terms ofetficiency. But the MCFC technology represents the most interesting For the near future: it offers greater elficiency than PAFC and notable simplifications in the use offuels as natural gas, biogas or coal gas. Moreover, in contrast to SOFC, the MCFC is now at the end of the experimentation phase and near the first commercialisation. For these reasons, this chapter focuses on the MCFC technology to compare a possible solution of biogas exploitation from a real landfill site recently closed in Calabria (southern Italy) with the present prevalent technology of the gas engine. The method proposed, developed by multicriteria analysis, allows to obtain easy comprehensive results and could be a valid support for landfill managers to develop energy recovery projects.
Application of molten carbonate fuel cells for the exploitation of landfill gas
IANNELLI, RENATO;
2005-01-01
Abstract
The scope of the present case study was double: firstly, it intends to verify the feasibility, specially in terms of costs, of a project of energy recovery from landfill gas using molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs). Secondly, it presents a rational evaluation criterion to choose, from several project alternatives, the best in economic and environmental terms. Among the various fuel cell technologies, the most appropriate for stationary applications in the power range 200 kW to l MW are the phosphoric acid (PA FC), the MCFC and the solid oxide (SOFC) fuel cells. The first one (PAFC) is the most mature ofthe three and the third (SOFC) the most promising in terms ofetficiency. But the MCFC technology represents the most interesting For the near future: it offers greater elficiency than PAFC and notable simplifications in the use offuels as natural gas, biogas or coal gas. Moreover, in contrast to SOFC, the MCFC is now at the end of the experimentation phase and near the first commercialisation. For these reasons, this chapter focuses on the MCFC technology to compare a possible solution of biogas exploitation from a real landfill site recently closed in Calabria (southern Italy) with the present prevalent technology of the gas engine. The method proposed, developed by multicriteria analysis, allows to obtain easy comprehensive results and could be a valid support for landfill managers to develop energy recovery projects.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
