Predicted Performance of an Integrated Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic System With Hybrid Turbine-Fuel Cell Cogeneration System

A general approach, the HLRP technique, for determining the performance of a hybrid turbine-fuel cell cogeneration system with a renewable energy sources is presented for a domestic residence. The hybrid-cogeneration system provides the electric power as well as satisfying heating loads. In this paper a system level analysis that includes practical values of heat exchangers, pumps, and storage equipment is presented. The use of the ratio of the thermal load to required power parameter (HLRP), which has been used by the authors to scale energy systems, allows the performance to be quickly determined and preliminary carbon dioxide production rates and cost effects to be estimated. The present paper includes solar energy systems as renewable energy to illustrate the development of this technique and its integration with the hybrid fuel cell cogeneration system. Practical values of solar collector efficiency and storage tank and battery storage efficiency are included. The analysis focused on matching the transient characteristics of the power and thermal loads with those of the renewable energy system. The results demonstrate that for a typical winter day in the location studied there are not large variations in the energy utilization factors for the four different systems investigated. There is a 23% reduction in the carbon dioxide produced using the solar thermal or combined system as compared to the no renewable energy or photovoltaic systems. The information provided by the performance graphs is used to estimate costs for each system and to easily determine which system is the most efficient for satisfying energy requirements and reducing green house gas emissions. The results provide site planners and physical plant operators with initial information that can be used to design new facilities or effectively integrate large plant expansion that include renewable energy systems in a manner that will minimize energy requirements and reduce pollution effects.