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A Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC)-Based Biogas-from-Waste Generation System for Residential Buildings in China: A Feasibility Study

Author

Listed:
  • Qiancheng Wang

    (Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 518000, China)

  • Hsi-Hsien Wei

    (Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 518000, China)

  • Qian Xu

    (Department of Building, School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore, Singapore 637551, Singapore)

Abstract

The building sector consumes a great deal of energy and generates organic waste, and thus has been a cause of considerable environmental concern. One distributed-energy technique, solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)-based biogas-from-waste generation, has shown promise for waste treatment as well as energy saving in buildings. This study proposes a high-efficiency cooling, heating and electricity-generation system with an SOFC-absorption water-cooled tri-generation configuration. Operations data from a typical high-rise commercial building in Shanghai were analyzed as a case study of the proposed system’s economic, environmental, and social feasibility in China. The results indicated that its economic performance was satisfactory, with a short payback period of less than one year if subsidized. Additionally, the system was found to achieve high efficiency: i.e., 85%, as compared to approximately 40% achieved by conventional combustion-powered systems. Finally, in terms of social feasibility, survey respondents not only expressed positive overall attitudes towards the application of the system, but also raised concerns about its long-term operating costs. Given that foreseeable technological advancements promise greater flexibility and reduced space requirements, these results imply that the proposed integrated SOFC multi-generation system will be well-suited to future infrastructure and building projects in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiancheng Wang & Hsi-Hsien Wei & Qian Xu, 2018. "A Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC)-Based Biogas-from-Waste Generation System for Residential Buildings in China: A Feasibility Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-9, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:7:p:2395-:d:157113
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    Cited by:

    1. Khaled M. A. Salim & Ruhanita Maelah & Hawa Hishamuddin & Amizawati Mohd Amir & Mohd Nizam Ab Rahman, 2022. "Two Decades of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs): A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-18, September.
    2. Mihaela Simionescu & Adam Wojciechowski & Arkadiusz Tomczyk & Marcin Rabe, 2021. "Revised Environmental Kuznets Curve for V4 Countries and Baltic States," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-15, June.
    3. Shuhao Chang & Qiancheng Wang & Haihua Hu & Zijian Ding & Hansen Guo, 2018. "An NNwC MPPT-Based Energy Supply Solution for Sensor Nodes in Buildings and Its Feasibility Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-20, December.
    4. Jie Ma & Suning Ma & Xinyi Zhang & Daifen Chen & Juan He, 2018. "Development of Large-Scale and Quasi Multi-Physics Model for Whole Structure of the Typical Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stacks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-16, August.
    5. Xuan Liu & Qiancheng Wang & Hsi-Hsien Wei & Hung-Lin Chi & Yaotian Ma & Izzy Yi Jian, 2020. "Psychological and Demographic Factors Affecting Household Energy-Saving Intentions: A TPB-Based Study in Northwest China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-20, January.
    6. Andrzej Łebkowski & Jakub Wnorowski, 2021. "A Comparative Analysis of Energy Consumption by Conventional and Anchor Based Dynamic Positioning of Ship," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-26, January.
    7. Orlando Corigliano & Leonardo Pagnotta & Petronilla Fragiacomo, 2022. "On the Technology of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Energy Systems for Stationary Power Generation: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-73, November.

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