Performance analysis of an innovative small-scale trigeneration plant with liquid desiccant cooling system

Badami, Marco; Portoraro, Armando

doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2009.06.006

Cited by 43 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Tri-generation systems therefore have the potential to increase access to the benefits achievable from on-site electrical generation, primarily; reduced emissions and operating costs [17]. The application of tri-generation systems in the domestic built environment has been increasing, particularly in areas where the thermal demand during the cold season is balanced by an almost equal cooling demand during the hot season [18]. Furthermore, recent changes in climatic conditions means in many countries the demand for cooling in buildings is projected to increase.…”

Section: Tri-generation Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Elmer

Worall

et al. 2015

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

265

105

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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.

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Section: Tri-generation Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Elmer

Worall

et al. 2015

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

265

105

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Tri-generation systems are under development for heat, power, and cooling (via an added absorption chiller), particularly for areas where the thermal demand during the cold season is balanced by an almost equal cooling demand during the hot season. 6 Furthermore, oxygen depleted air from the fuel cell exhaust can be used for fire prevention.…”

Section: Stationary Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applications of Fuel Cell Technology: Status and Perspectives

Garche

Jürissen

2015

Interface magazine

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A bout 175 years have passed since the invention of the fuel cell (FC) by Schoenbein und Grove, 1 but up until now, only limited market penetration has occurred despite the potentially high energy conversion efficiency of FC technology. The very successful development of electrical generators and internal combustion engines (ICE) for cars and the challenges related to material selection and electrode kinetics led the promise of the fuel cell to almost sink into oblivion in the initial century or so since its invention.In the first half of the 20 th century, there were isolated attempts to develop FCs, such as by Francis T. Bacon, who started his alkaline fuel cell (AFC) development in 1932 and presented a practical 5 kW system in 1959. In the same year, Harry K. Ihrig (Allis-Chalmers) demonstrated the first FC vehicle, a 15 kW AFC powered tractor (Fig. 1).

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“…Otherwise issues such as an increase in energy demand seen in the work of Badami and Portoraro (2009) can result. Furthermore, the size and complexity of the liquid desiccant systems needs careful consideration, especially when integrated in a domestic application with other potentially large and complex equipment i.e.…”

Section: Liquid Desiccant Based Tri-generation Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Tri-generation systems therefore have the potential to increase access to the benefits achievable from on-site electrical generation, primarily; reduced emissions and operating costs (Sonar, Soni et al, 2014). The application of trigeneration systems in the domestic built environment has been increasing, particularly in areas where the thermal demand during the cold season is balanced by an almost equal cooling demand during the hot season (Badami and Portoraro, 2009). Recent changes in climatic conditions means in many countries the demand for cooling in buildings is projected to increase.…”

Section: Tri-generationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Novel SOFC Tri-generation System for Building Applications

Elmer

2017

Springer Theses

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i AbstractIn response to the critical need to decarbonise the built environment, alternative methods for more effective energy utilisation need to be explored including trigeneration systems.Tri-generation is the simultaneous generation of electricity, heating and/or cooling from a single fuel source. Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and liquid desiccant demonstrate many characteristics that make them an attractive option in the development of an efficient and effective tri-generation system. SOFCs have high operational electrical efficiencies and a thermal output in good agreement with the low temperature regeneration requirement of liquid desiccants.The aim of this thesis is to design, develop and test an efficient and effective proof of concept tri-generation system based on SOFC and liquid desiccant air conditioning technology for building applications. An extensive review of the literature shows that no previous work has been reported on such a system. The research has critically examined, both theoretically and experimentally, the novel tri-generation system concept.Simulations show tri-generation system efficiencies of up to 71% are achievable at a 1.5kW e capacity, which are encouraging values for a system of this size. An integration analysis, based on empirical data, provides good agreement with the simulations. At a 1.5kW e output, a tri-generation efficiency of 69% has been demonstrated. The inclusion of liquid desiccant air conditioning provides an efficiency increase of up to 15% compared to SOFC electrical operation only, demonstrating the merit of the novel tri-generation system in applications that require simultaneous electrical power, heating and dehumidification/cooling. An experimental system, using a micro-tubular SOFC shows the novel system can generate 150W of electrical power, 443W of heat or 279W of cooling. Instantaneous tri-generation system efficiency is low at around 25%. This is primarily due to the low capacity and poor performance of the micro-tubular SOFC. Although the performance is low, the experimental results demonstrate regeneration of a potassium formate desiccant solution using the thermal output from the microtubular SOFC in the first of its kind tri-generation system. The thesis has established that a clear operational advantage of the novel SOFC liquid desiccant Abstract f ii tri-generation system is the potential for nonsynchronous operation. The constant SOFC thermal output can be used to re-concentrate the desiccant solution as a form of thermal energy storage. Unlike thermal storage techniques based on sensible energy, a significant advantage of (chemical) thermal energy storage in the form of strong desiccant solution is that there are minimal losses over time.Using this nonsynchronous operating concept, the experimental system can generate an increased peak cooling output of up to 527W and a daily tri-generation efficiency of 38%.An economic assessment demonstrates questionable performance; however this is anticipated to improve with SOFC capital cost reduct...

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Performance analysis of an innovative small-scale trigeneration plant with liquid desiccant cooling system

Cited by 43 publications

References 11 publications

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

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

Applications of Fuel Cell Technology: Status and Perspectives

A Novel SOFC Tri-generation System for Building Applications

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