Analyzing microcogeneration systems based on LT-PEMFC and HT-PEMFC by energy balances

作者：Jannelli Elio; Minutillo Mariagiovanna^*; Perna Alessandra

来源：Applied Energy, 2013, 108: 82-91.

DOI：10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.03.067

• Reforming system
• High temperature PEMFC
• Cogeneration
• Numerical models
• Experimental activity

This paper focuses on the performance analysis of microcogeneration systems based on the integration between a reforming unit (RFU), consisting of a natural gas steam reforming, and a power unit, based on the PEM fuel cell technology. The analysis has been carried out considering, as power unit, three different PEM fuel cells: a low temperature PEM fuel cell with Nafion (TM) membrane (LT-FC) operating at 67 degrees C, a high temperature PEM fuel cell with a membrane based on polybenzimidazole material doped with phosphoric acid (HT-FC1) operating at 160 degrees C, and a high temperature PEM fuel cell that uses aromatic polyether polymers/copolymers bearing pyridine units doped with phosphoric acid as electrolyte (HT-FC2) operating at 180 degrees C.
The study has been conducted by using numerical models tuned by experimental data measured in test benches developed at University of Cassino.
For sizing the power units able to provide a maximum electric power of 2.5 kW (this size allows to satisfy the electric and thermal energy demand of an Italian household), two designing criteria have been considered.
Results have shown that the integrated systems based on the HT-FCs are characterized by high electric efficiency (40%) and cogeneration efficiency (79%).
Moreover, the thermal power recovered decreases with the stacks operating temperature, thus the highest cogeneration efficiency (80%) is obtained by the microcogeneration system based on low temperature fuel cells. However, the availability of high temperature heat makes the HT-FC an attractive solution for the cogeneration/trigeneration systems development.

• 出版日期2013-8