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Analysis of a molten carbonate fuel cell: cogeneration to produce electricity and cold water

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  • Silveira, José Luz
  • Martins Leal, Elisângela
  • Ragonha, Luiz F

Abstract

The fuel cell is an emerging cogeneration technology that has been applied successfully in Japan, the USA and some countries in the European Union. This system performs direct conversion of the chemical energy of the oxidation of hydrogen from fuel with atmospheric oxygen into direct current electricity and waste heat via an electrochemical process relying on the use of different electrolytes (phosphoric acid, molten carbonate and solid oxide, depending on operating temperature). This technology permits the recovery of waste heat, available from 200°C up to 1000°C depending on the electrolyte technology, which can be used in the production of steam, hot or cold water, or hot or cold air, depending on the associated recuperation equipment. In this paper, an energy, exergy and economic analysis of a fuel cell cogeneration system (FCCS) is presented. The FCCS is applied in a segment of the tertiary sector to show that it is a feasible alternative for rational decentralized energy production under Brazilian conditions. The technoeconomic analysis shows a global efficiency or fuel utilization efficiency of 86%. Analysis shows that the exergy losses in the fuel cell unit and the absorption refrigeration system are significant. Furthermore, the payback period estimated is about 3 and 5 years for investments in fuel cells of 1000 and 1500 US$/kW, respectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Silveira, José Luz & Martins Leal, Elisângela & Ragonha, Luiz F, 2001. "Analysis of a molten carbonate fuel cell: cogeneration to produce electricity and cold water," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 26(10), pages 891-904.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:26:y:2001:i:10:p:891-904
    DOI: 10.1016/S0360-5442(01)00038-X
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dunbar, William R. & Lior, Noam & Gaggioli, Richard A., 1991. "Combining fuel cells with fuel-fired power plants for improved exergy efficiency," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 16(10), pages 1259-1274.
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    Cited by:

    1. Boloy, Ronney Arismel Mancebo & Silveira, Jose Luz & Tuna, Celso Eduardo & Coronado, Christian R. & Antunes, Julio Santana, 2011. "Ecological impacts from syngas burning in internal combustion engine: Technical and economic aspects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(9), pages 5194-5201.
    2. Ghosh, S. & De, S., 2006. "Energy analysis of a cogeneration plant using coal gasification and solid oxide fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(2), pages 345-363.
    3. Raj, N. Thilak & Iniyan, S. & Goic, Ranko, 2011. "A review of renewable energy based cogeneration technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(8), pages 3640-3648.
    4. Houcheng Zhang & Jiatang Wang & Jiapei Zhao & Fu Wang & He Miao & Jinliang Yuan, 2019. "Performance Analysis of a Hybrid System Consisting of a Molten Carbonate Direct Carbon Fuel Cell and an Absorption Refrigerator," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-13, January.
    5. Jurado, Francisco, 2005. "Robust control for fuel cell–microturbine hybrid power plant using biomass," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 30(10), pages 1711-1727.
    6. Chicco, Gianfranco & Mancarella, Pierluigi, 2009. "Distributed multi-generation: A comprehensive view," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(3), pages 535-551, April.
    7. Duan, Liqiang & Lu, Hao & Yuan, Mingye & Lv, Zhipeng, 2018. "Optimization and part-load performance analysis of MCFC/ST hybrid power system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 682-693.
    8. Wu, Sijie & Zhang, Houcheng & Ni, Meng, 2016. "Performance assessment of a hybrid system integrating a molten carbonate fuel cell and a thermoelectric generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 520-527.
    9. Chen, Xiaohang & Wang, Yuan & Zhao, Yingru & Zhou, Yinghui, 2016. "A study of double functions and load matching of a phosphoric acid fuel cell/heat-driven refrigerator hybrid system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 359-365.
    10. Haghighat Mamaghani, Alireza & Najafi, Behzad & Shirazi, Ali & Rinaldi, Fabio, 2015. "4E analysis and multi-objective optimization of an integrated MCFC (molten carbonate fuel cell) and ORC (organic Rankine cycle) system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 650-663.
    11. Pedro Gabana & Francisco V. Tinaut & Miriam Reyes & José Ignacio Domínguez, 2023. "Performance Evaluation of a Fuel Cell mCHP System under Different Configurations of Hydrogen Origin and Heat Recovery," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-20, September.
    12. Weber, Céline & Koyama, Michihisa & Kraines, Steven, 2006. "CO2-emissions reduction potential and costs of a decentralized energy system for providing electricity, cooling and heating in an office-building in Tokyo," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(14), pages 3041-3061.
    13. Trivyza, Nikoletta L. & Rentizelas, Athanasios & Theotokatos, Gerasimos, 2019. "Impact of carbon pricing on the cruise ship energy systems optimal configuration," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 952-966.

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