LOHC-SOFC Coupled Power System

83.8% less start-up fuel

Optimized start-up strategy and waste heat recovery reduce external hydrogen consumption and increase electrical efficiency.

Wang, Shiyao · Li, Ping · Cao, Chenxi · Zhang, Zhongyao

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2026

Specifications

Time to rated power
{'zh': '6.58', 'en': '6.58'} h
External hydrogen consumption
{'zh': '57.8', 'en': '57.8'} mol
Average auxiliary power
{'zh': '0.59', 'en': '0.59'} kW
Fuel savings
{'zh': '83.8', 'en': '83.8'} %
Electrical efficiency (with WHR)
{'zh': '49.6', 'en': '49.6'} %
Exergy destruction
{'zh': '2.12', 'en': '2.12'} kW

Advantages

Fuel use cut by 83.8%

The optimized parallel start-up strategy reduces external hydrogen consumption to 57.8 mol, an 83.8% reduction versus SOFC-first strategies, while maintaining thermal safety.

Faster start-up

The system reaches rated power in 6.58 h with an average auxiliary power of only 0.59 kW, significantly improving start-up speed.

Higher efficiency via heat recovery

Integrating a 0.75-effective waste heat recovery network boosts electrical efficiency from 41.6% to 49.6% and lowers exergy destruction to 2.12 kW.

Applications