Performance analysis and cost estimation are carried out for a cogeneration system consisting of a solid high-polymer-film-type fuel cell with a methanol reformer applied to individual houses. For the operation of the fuel cell under a partial load, a unique point of this system is the shifting of the driving point by the electric heater. Considering the annual energy cost for an average house in Sapporo, Japan, the energy cost of this system is shown to be 1.42 times that of conventional systems in which a cogeneration system is not installed.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Keywords:
proton exchange membrane fuel cells, cogeneration, distributed power generation, power generation economics
Topics:
Boilers, Combined heat and power, Fuel cells, Methanol, Stress, Steam reforming, Fuels, Thermal energy, Heat, Thermal energy storage, Proton exchange membrane fuel cells
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Copyright © 2005
 by American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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