Fuel variability and flexible operation of solid oxide fuel cell systems

Abstract One of the most important advantages of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technologies is their high degree of flexibility in accepting a variety of feedstocks, which can play an important role in the transition from fossil fuels to renewable-energy resources, while enhancing the sustainability of these processes. However, such advantages come at the price of a more convoluted process and the requirements for handling a wider range of contaminations. This chapter discusses various fuels applied in SOFC systems as well as their preprocessing requirements, energy and mass integration with other process sections, and the implications of processing multiple fuels in terms of optimizing operational variables and process control.