Micro-cogeneration systems have received increasing attention in recent years because, by providing both useful electricity and heat with high efficiency, they can have a strategic role in reduction of greenhouse gas emissions according to the European Union targets. Among the micro-cogeneration technologies, Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) are considered an emerging alternative to combustion-based cogeneration systems because of their high power density, low operating temperature, and fast start-up and shutdown. In this paper, a micro-cogeneration system (CHP) for residential application is investigated and its overall performance, under different control strategies, has been evaluated. The system consists of a natural gas steam reforming unit, a PEMFC unit, a heat recovery unit, a control unit and a DC/AC converter. In order to evaluate the CHP primary energy savings, according to the European Union directive 2004/8/EC, an Energy Management Algorithm (EMA) has been implemented. The EMA code allows to calculate all in/out energy fluxes by varying the CHP system operation mode in order to find the optimal control strategy month by month. This optimization procedure is based on system performance parameters such as the second-law efficiency, ηII, and the primary energy saving, PES. Results show that the CHP system allows to satisfy the electrical and thermal energy demand of a typical Italian household with a primary energy saving about equal to 28%.
Control Strategies Applied to a Residential CHP System Based on PEMFC Technology
GALLONI, Enzo;PERNA, Alessandra
2010-01-01
Abstract
Micro-cogeneration systems have received increasing attention in recent years because, by providing both useful electricity and heat with high efficiency, they can have a strategic role in reduction of greenhouse gas emissions according to the European Union targets. Among the micro-cogeneration technologies, Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) are considered an emerging alternative to combustion-based cogeneration systems because of their high power density, low operating temperature, and fast start-up and shutdown. In this paper, a micro-cogeneration system (CHP) for residential application is investigated and its overall performance, under different control strategies, has been evaluated. The system consists of a natural gas steam reforming unit, a PEMFC unit, a heat recovery unit, a control unit and a DC/AC converter. In order to evaluate the CHP primary energy savings, according to the European Union directive 2004/8/EC, an Energy Management Algorithm (EMA) has been implemented. The EMA code allows to calculate all in/out energy fluxes by varying the CHP system operation mode in order to find the optimal control strategy month by month. This optimization procedure is based on system performance parameters such as the second-law efficiency, ηII, and the primary energy saving, PES. Results show that the CHP system allows to satisfy the electrical and thermal energy demand of a typical Italian household with a primary energy saving about equal to 28%.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
