Energy systems based on fuel cells technology have received increasing attention because, by providing both useful electricity and heat with high efficiency can have a strategic role in reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. High-Temperature PEMFCs, which are designed to operate at temperatures above 150°C without the need for external humidification are considered the next generation of power production devices due to their superior performance compared with Low-Temperature PEMFCs. An interesting and feasible scheme for enhancing the primary energy conversion in small size power systems is the coupling of the PEM fuel cell technology with Organic Rankine Cycles. In this paper, an advanced combined micro-cogeneration system, called AFCOR (Advanced Fuel Cell and ORC), based on thermal coupling between a high temperature PEM fuel cell system and an Organic Rankine Cycle that recovers the heat from the fuel cell cooling system, is proposed and studied. In order to evaluate the performance of the advanced system a numerical model has been developed and implemented by using the AspenPlusTM code. Results show that the electric power generated is 27 kW and the overall electric system efficiency is 43%.
Thermal coupling of a high temperature PEM fuel cell with an Organic Rankine Cycle: plant configuration and performance analysis
CICCONARDI, Salvatore Pietro;PERNA, Alessandra
2014-01-01
Abstract
Energy systems based on fuel cells technology have received increasing attention because, by providing both useful electricity and heat with high efficiency can have a strategic role in reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. High-Temperature PEMFCs, which are designed to operate at temperatures above 150°C without the need for external humidification are considered the next generation of power production devices due to their superior performance compared with Low-Temperature PEMFCs. An interesting and feasible scheme for enhancing the primary energy conversion in small size power systems is the coupling of the PEM fuel cell technology with Organic Rankine Cycles. In this paper, an advanced combined micro-cogeneration system, called AFCOR (Advanced Fuel Cell and ORC), based on thermal coupling between a high temperature PEM fuel cell system and an Organic Rankine Cycle that recovers the heat from the fuel cell cooling system, is proposed and studied. In order to evaluate the performance of the advanced system a numerical model has been developed and implemented by using the AspenPlusTM code. Results show that the electric power generated is 27 kW and the overall electric system efficiency is 43%.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.