Technical performance analysis of a micro-combined cooling, heating and power system based on solar energy and high temperature PEMFC

Abstract

A solar energy and high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)-based micro-combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) system (named system I) is proposed in this work. This system mainly consists of a PEMFC subsystem, an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) subsystem and a vapor compression cycle (VCC) subsystem. System I would reduce to a high temperature PEMFC-based CCHP system (named system II) if there was no solar energy. With the technical performance analysis models developed, the effects of the current density, operating temperature, solar radiation intensity and ambient temperature on the thermal, economic and environmental performances of the systems are theoretically analyzed. The results show that the current density and solar radiation intensity are the main impact factors that can significantly affect the thermal, economic and environmental performances, while the operating temperature and ambient temperature only have remarkable influences on the thermal performance. The coefficient of performance (COP) of system II is approximately 1.19 in summer and 1.42 in winter, which is always higher than that of system I under the same working conditions. The exergy efficiency of system I and system II are approximately 49.7% and 47.4%, respectively. The primary energy saving rates (PESRs) of system I and system II are 64.9% and 31.8% in summer, and 60.0% and 36.2% in winter, respectively. The payback periods of system I and system II are 9.6 yr and 6.0 yr without government subsidy, respectively. Compared with system II, the pollutant emission reduction rates (ERRs) of system I can be increased by approximately 8.4%–23.5% with the addition of solar energy, which indicates that the development and utilization of clean and renewable energy such as solar energy can significantly reduce pollutant emissions.