Assessment of a novel solid oxide fuel cell tri-generation system for building applications

Abstract

9The paper provides a performance analysis assessment of a novel solid oxide fuel cell 10 (SOFC) liquid desiccant tri-generation system for building applications. The work 11 presented serves to build upon the current literature related to experimental evaluations 12 of SOFC tri-generation systems, particularly in domestic built environment applications. 13The proposed SOFC liquid desiccant tri-generation system will be the first-of-its-kind. No 14 research activity is reported on the integration of SOFC, or any fuel cell, with liquid 15 desiccant air conditioning in a tri-generation system configuration. The novel tri-16 generation system is suited to applications that require simultaneous electrical power, 17 heating and dehumidification/cooling. There are several specific benefits to the integration 18 of SOFC and liquid desiccant air conditioning technology, including; very high operational 19 electrical efficiencies even at low system capacities and the ability to utilise low-grade 20 thermal energy in a (useful) cooling process. Furthermore, the novel tri-generation system 21 has the potential to increase thermal energy utilisation and thus the access to the benefits 22 achievable from on-site electrical generation, primarily; reduced emissions and operating 23 costs. Compared to an equivalent base case system, the novel tri-generation system is currently 34 only economically viable with a government's financial support. SOFC capital cost and 35 stack replacement are the largest inhibitors to economic viability. Environmental 36 performance is closely linked to electrical emission factor, and thus performance is heavily 37 country dependent. (4) The economic and environmental feasibility of the novel tri-38 generation system will improve with predicted SOFC capital cost reductions and the 39 transition to clean hydrogen production. 40 41

A Comprehensive Review and Technical Guideline for Optimal Design and Operations of Fuel Cell-Based Cogeneration Systems

“…In line with the monitoring and prediction of the system, experimental studies involving the real fuel cell-based cogeneration system is valuable to analyze the durability of the system. A couple of studies that have implemented the cogeneration system for a real implementation can be used as references [109,110]. Since the PEMFC and SOFC are well known as the prime mover in cogeneration systems, the finding of its commercialized products is easier to obtain.…”

Integration of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell with an Organic Rankine Cycle and Absorption Chiller for Dynamic Generation of Power and Cooling for a Residential Application

“…Elmer et al. used empirical SOFC and liquid desiccant component data and provided an energetic, economic, and environmental performance assessment of the combined system. The economic and environmental analysis showed an improvement in SOFC capital cost and the transition to clean hydrogen production.…”

Advanced Strategies for Net-Zero Energy Building: Focused on the Early Phase and Usage Phase of a Building’s Life Cycle

“…and the step of substituting the residual building energy demand through energy supply from active technologies (e.g., PV system with ESS) must be adopted. Most of the previous studies, however, were conducted by focusing on only one strategy (i.e., passive or active strategies) [130][131][132][133][134][135][136][137][138][139][140][141][142]. Therefore, an integrated analysis of the energy performance of a building where both passive and active strategies are applied should be performed in the early phase of a building's life cycle from the perspective of achieving nZEB.…”

“…In the previous studies analyzed in Section 2.2.2, most applied DR to analyze energy savings based on historical data [130][131][132][133][134][135][136][137][138][139][140][141][142]. However, in order to effectively manage the building from nZEB perspectives, it is necessary to obtain the energy demands and supply information in real-time.…”

“…This is because the electricity produced from RE can be used in the electrolysis of water in the fuel cell system [129]. The previous studies related to the fuel cell system are as follows (refer to Table 11) [130][131][132][133][134][135]. aimed to develop a framework for optimally applying the fuel-cell-based combined heat and power system to a multi-family housing complex.…”