Analysis of the application of fuel cells in dual energy use systems. Volume 2. Final report

Technical Report · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6010466· OSTI ID:6010466

Wakefield, R. A.; Limaye, D. R.; Karamchetty, S. D.S.R.; Friedman, N. R.

This study was conducted to assess the technical and financial issues associated with utility-owned, grid-connected, dispersed fuel cells operating as dual energy use systems (DEUS) to provide economic intermediate or peaking duty for the electric utility system, and to satisfy thermal loads in the residential, commercial, industrial and utility sectors. The primary objective was to evaluate the potential applications of dual energy use fuel cell systems by 1) identifying representative generic applications for DEUS fuel cells; 2) assessing the technical and economic factors in each application; 3) developing and evaluating options for matching or decoupling electric and thermal loads; and 4) quantifying the potential benefits and limitations of DEUS fuel cells. Both the phosphoric acid and molten carbonate fuel cell types were considered. The results indicate that both fuel cell types are economically attractive and technically viable for DEUS use in each of the application sectors. The most attractive applications for building systems include universities and hospitals; for industry, paper and pulp mills; and for utility power plants, air preheating. The economic benefits from these uses would justify increases in fuel cell capital costs of approx. $300/kW. Several other applications also showed favorable results, with increased allowable capital costs of $100 to $300/kW. The resultsalso indicated that the economic benefits arose even if the DEUS power plants operated on economic electric dispatch. This mode also resulted in significant petroleum savings due to the approximately 80% efficiency of DEUS fuel cells. Very few limitations on the use of DEUS fuel cells were identified.

• Research Organization: Mathtech, Inc., Washington, DC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6010466
• Report Number(s): EPRI-EM-981(Vol.2)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290800 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Heat Utilization-- (1980-)
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300504* -- Fuel Cells-- Applications
ACID ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELLS
AIR HEATERS
APPLIANCES
BOILERS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CO-GENERATION
COMMERCIAL SECTOR
DEUS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
DUAL-PURPOSE POWER PLANTS
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ENERGY
ENERGY RECOVERY
EVALUATION
FEEDWATER HEATERS
FUEL CELL POWER PLANTS
FUEL CELLS
HEAT
HEAT RECOVERY
HEATERS
HEATING
HIGH-TEMPERATURE FUEL CELLS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRY
INORGANIC ACIDS
INTERCONNECTED POWER SYSTEMS
MOLTEN SALTS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
PHOSPHORIC ACID
POWER GENERATION
POWER PLANTS
POWER SYSTEMS
PROCESS HEAT
PUBLIC UTILITIES
RECOVERY
RESIDENTIAL SECTOR
SALTS
SPACE HEATING
STEAM GENERATION
STEAM GENERATORS
USES
VAPOR GENERATORS
WASTE HEAT UTILIZATION
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
WATER HEATERS