Thermodynamic Investigation of a Shared Cogeneration System with Electrical Cars for Northern Europe Climate

Abstract

Transition to alternative energy systems is indicated by EU Commission as a suitable path to energy efficiency and energy saving in the next years. The aims are to decrease greenhouses gases emissions, relevance of fossil fuels in energy production and energy dependence on extra-EU countries. These goals can be achieved increasing renewable energy sources and/or efficiency on energy production processes. In this paper an innovative micro-cogeneration system for household application is presented: it covers heating, domestic hot water and electricity demands for a residential user. Solid oxide fuel cells, heat pump and Stirling engine are utilised as a system to achieve high energy conversion efficiency. A transition from traditional petrol cars to electric mobility is also considered and simulated here. Different types of fuel are considered to demonstrate the high versatility of the simulated cogeneration system by changing the pre-reformer of the fuel cell. Thermodynamic analysis is performed to prove high efficiency with the different fuels.

Toward an Efficient and Sustainable Use of Energy in Industries and Cities

“…LTO systems are the most effective batteries for the mitigation of GHG emissions. Electric vehicles are investigated also in previous SDEWES SIs: (i) Vialetto et al [36] performed a thermodynamic study of a shared cogeneration system for Northern Europe climate; (ii) Del Moretto et al [37] compared diesel and electric tourist trains from environmental, energy and socio-economic points of view in a novel sustainable mobility connection for campsites; (iii) Novosel et al [38] modelled the energy planning of the Croatian transportation system; (iv) Firak et al [39] investigated the Croatian future transportation sector based on hydrogen infrastructure and fuel-cell vehicles; (v) Briggs et al [40] analysed and simulated an inner-city diesel-electric hybrid bus; and (vi) Knez et al [41] considered policies for the commercialization of low emission electric vehicles.…”

Studying a Hybrid System Based on Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Combined With an Air Source Heat Pump and With a Novel Heat Recovery

“…Also the authors of the present paper previously investigated the interactions between charging an electric car and a micro-SOFC with an integrated heating system cogeneration system for a household application [20]. In another study [21], the authors analyzed a SOFC, heat pump and Stirling engine system to face heating, domestic hot water and electricity demands for a residential user. A transition from traditional petrol cars to electric mobility was also considered and simulated demonstrating high efficiency of the system with different types of fuel.…”

“…Moreover, in such a way heat recovery from the SOFC is increased. In previous works ([20] [21]), the Authors have already proposed to recover heat of SOFC systems: exhausted gases were used to heat water with a heat exchanger for DHW and space heating purpose, with H/P ratio of the overall system around 0.82. In these cases, gases were discharged with a temperature higher than 100 °C in order to prevent condensation, and decrease the size of the heat exchanger.…”

Recent Advances in the Analysis of Sustainable Energy Systems

“…Several other papers were published in this area in the previous SDEWES special issues, dealing with: trigeneration systems including fuel cells and supplied by municipal waste [74], building integrated trigeneration systems [75], cogeneration for wood industry in Serbia [76], simulation of a cogenerative micro-gas turbine operating at partial load conditions [77], cogeneration systems supplied by waste forest biomass [78], interaction between cogeneration systems and electrical vehicles [77,79], integration of solar energy in district heating systems [80], incentivizing mechanisms for trigeneration plants in Italy [81].…”