DESIGN A HIGH-QUALITY PEM FUEL CELL CHP SYSTEM FOR RESIDENTIAL USE

This work deals with the analysis of a micro-cogeneration system or micro-Combined Heat and Power (μCHP) system for residential use based on a highest energy conversion efficiency Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell. A detailed system analysis of the fuel cell stack operating at a maximum ambient temperature of 40 °C and balance of electricity are taken into account. The hydrogen gas processing section and the heat recovery system were also designed and optimized in term of heat recovery. The micro-cogeneration system has been modelled and set on the basis of experimental data obtained during the operation of the residential building in term of mass and energy balances while efficiency maps were obtained for a varying fuel utilization and current density of the stack from ANSIS. The maximum electrical efficiency achieved is around 48%, with a stack voltage of 1.23V and a Fuel Utilization (FU) of 60%, achieves to 2% hydrogen energy obtained from hydrogen fuel cells based on this design, and cover electrical and heat loads at home.