Analysis of the application of fuel cells in dual energy use systems

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

OSTI ID:6010482

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 asociated 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 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 identifying representative generic applications for DEUS fuel cells; assesing the technical and economic factors in each application; devloping and evaluating options for matching or decoupling electric and thermal loads; and 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--$300/kW. The results also indicated that the economic benefits arose even if the DEUS power plants operated on economic electric dispatch. This mode also results in significant pertroleum savings due to the approximatly 80% efficiency of DEUS fuel cells.

• Research Organization: Mathtech, Inc., Washington, DC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6010482
• Report Number(s): EPRI-EM-981-SY(Vol.1)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200100 -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Power Plants & Power Generation
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300504* -- Fuel Cells-- Applications
ACID ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELLS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CO-GENERATION
COMMERCIAL SECTOR
DEUS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
DUAL-PURPOSE POWER PLANTS
ECONOMICS
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
EVALUATION
FUEL CELL POWER PLANTS
FUEL CELLS
HIGH-TEMPERATURE FUEL CELLS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRY
INORGANIC ACIDS
MOLTEN SALTS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORIC ACID
POWER GENERATION
POWER PLANTS
PUBLIC UTILITIES
RESIDENTIAL SECTOR
SALTS
STEAM GENERATION
USES