A hardware-based simulation of an integrated gasifier/fuel cell/turbine hybrid cycle (IGFC) has been implemented through the Hybrid Performance (Hyper) project at the National Energy Technology Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy (NETL) in Morgantown, West Virginia, U.S.A. The Hyper facility is designed to explore dynamic operation of hybrid systems and quantitatively characterize such transients. It is possible to model, test and evaluate the effects of different parameters on the design and operation of a gasifier/fuel cell/gas turbine hybrid system and provide means of quantifying risk mitigation strategies.Previous implementation of facility emergency shutdown in response to certain failures has resulted in hardware failure of both the turbomachinery and the simulated fuel cell.An analysis of system performance was completed to evaluate failure modes leading to the destruction of equipment. The primary linking event in these cases was compressor stall and surge resulting from the sudden loss of fuel during implementation of the double block and bleed strategy used in emergency shutdown. A new mitigation strategy involving automated ramps was developed for controlled emergency shutdown. The implementation of this strategy is described in detail, and the efficacy is analytically compared with the results of previous failures.
