Fuel cell technology for domestic built environment applications: State of-the-art review

Abstract

A note on versions:The version presented here may differ from the published version or from the version of record. If you wish to cite this item you are advised to consult the publisher's version. Please see the repository url above for details on accessing the published version and note that access may require a subscription.For more information, please contact eprints@nottingham.ac.uk 1 FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY FOR DOMESTIC BUILT ENVIRONMENT APPLICATIONS: STATE OF-THE-ART REVIEW ABSTRACTFuel cells produce heat when generating electricity, thus they are of particular interest for combined heat and power (CHP) and combined cooling heat and power (CCHP) applications, also known as tri-generation systems. CHP and tri-generation systems offer high energy conversion efficiency and hence the potential to reduce fuel costs and CO 2 emissions. This paper serves to provide a state-of-the-art review of fuel cell technology operating in the domestic built environment in CHP and tri-generation system applications. The review aims to carry out an assessment of the following topics: (1) the operational advantages fuel cells offer in CHP and tri-generation system configurations, specifically, compared to conventional combustion based technologies such as Stirling engines, (2) how decarbonisation, running cost and energy security in the domestic built environment may be addressed through the use of fuel cell technology, and (3) what has been done to date and what needs to be done in the future. The paper commences with a review of fuel cell technology, then moves on to examine fuel cell CHP systems operating in the domestic built environment, and finally explores fuel cell tri-generation systems in domestic built environment applications. The paper concludes with an assessment of the present development of, and future challenges for, domestic fuel cells operating in CHP and tri-generation systems. As fuel cells are an emergent technology the paper draws on a breadth of literature, data and experience, mostly from the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, America and Australia.Fuel cells are a technology of the future here today, providing a change in the way heat and power are supplied to end users. Fuel cells operating in CHP and tri-generation systems in domestic built environment applications could finally provide the means by which energy generation can transfer from centralised to decentralised locales in a sustainable and effective manner.

Assessing Uncertainties of Well-To-Tank Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Hydrogen Supply Chains

“…Other types of FCVs, such as forklifts [8][9][10] and buses [11][12][13], have also been commercialized. Regarding residential energy applications, micro fuel cell combined heat and power (FC-CHP) systems could decrease household energy use owing to their high gross energy efficiencies (the sum of power generation efficiency and heat production efficiency) [14]. Megawatt-class hydrogen energy systems have also been installed around the world in data centers, hotels and many other commercial facilities to combine distributed renewable energy resources-such as solar photovoltaics (PV) and wind turbines-and measures to ensure a stable energy supply-such as battery storage, and water electrolyzers, storage tanks and fuel cells for hydrogen production, storage and use, respectively [15][16][17][18].…”

Response Surface Methodology and Aspen Plus Integration for the Simulation of the Catalytic Steam Reforming of Ethanol

“…The process can be divided into three general stages: (i) H2 production by SRE with preheating (HE1) to ensure the reaction temperature; (ii) H2 purification by water condensation (CDS), CO elimination by carbon monoxide preferential oxidation (PROX) with preheating (HE2) to ensure the reaction temperature (150 °C [65]), and CH4 and CO2 adsorption (ADS) with activated carbon and precooling (HE3) to ensure the adsorption temperature (70 °C [66]); and (iii) energy generation in FC with preheating (HE4) to ensure the reaction temperature (150 °C [67]). The energy divisor (ED) indicates that the FC produces both electrical (40%) and heat (60%) energy [68]. CO2 and CH4 adsorption (ADS) with activated carbon was selected among other methods like adsorption with oxides [69,70], because the first ensures simultaneously removal of CO2 and CH4 in post-reforming streams, requires less power consumption, and minimizes H2 losses [66].…”

Development of a Catalytic Fuel Processor for a 10 kW Combined Heat and Power System: Experimental and Modeling Analysis of the Steam Reforming Unit

“…The development of a network of hydrogen filling stations realized with small-scale fuel processor units fed with hydrocarbon fuels has been conceived as a strategy to take advantage of the existing fuel infrastructure and favor a smooth transition from a fossil-based to a future renewable-based hydrogen economy [1][2][3][4][5]. In particular, small scale fuel processors have been studied for the auxiliary power units (APUs) which supply on-board energy for electrical uses other the vehicle motion, and for micro-combined heat and power units (micro-CHPs), the extension of the concept of cogeneration to small-scale applications [6,7]. Indeed, the penetration of advanced and efficient energy systems, based on fuel cells, was shown to have the potential for substantially contributing to the decarbonization of the energy system [8], in line with the EU Energy Roadmap target for 2050 [9].…”

“…Indeed, micro-CHP systems may fit well with the energy demand of buildings, and the application of micro-CHP to residential heat and power supply has grown among stakeholders, including energy companies, gas distributors, independent power producers and end users [7,11].…”

“…project funded by the Industria 2015 program. Indeed, micro-CHP systems may fit well with the energy demand of buildings, and the application of micro-CHP to residential heat and power supply has grown among stakeholders, including energy companies, gas distributors, independent power producers and end users [7,11]. A key issue related to micro-CHP systems is the reliability; the commercialization requires on one side, high efficiency and low environmental impact, and on the other side, stable, robust and easy-to-handle operability.…”