In this paper the results of the thermodynamic and economic analyses of distributed power plants (1.5 MWe) are described and compared. The results of an exergetic analysis are also reported, as well as the thermodynamic details of the most significant points.The work is focused on the comparison of different CO2 separation technologies applied to a hybrid SOFC system. A Hybrid System with tubular SOFC fed by natural gas with internal reforming is taken as reference plant; to obtain a low CO2 emission plant, two different technologies have been applied to the same base system. The first technology concerns a fuel decarbonization and CO2 separation process before feeding the system, while the second integrates the CO2 separation and the energy cycle.The first option employs fuel processing, a technology (amine chemical absorption) viable for short-term implementation in real installations while the second option provides the CO2 separation by condensing the steam from the exhaust of the system.The results were obtained with WTEMP software, developed by the TPG of the University of Genoa, and showed that the thermodynamic and economic impact of the adoption of zero-emission cycle layouts is relevant: advanced alternative technologies, such as membrane-based separation units, are highly desirable to improve plant performance.
