Abstract
The study presents a concept and calculations concerning the operation of the direct carbon fuel cell (DCFC) with molten hydroxide electrolyte (MH-DCFC) as the basic source of electricity integrated with heat and cool air generation systems. The technology of direct carbon fuel cells assumes the direct use of a carbon fuel (such as fossil coal, carbonized biomass, graphite, coke etc.) to generate electricity with high efficiency and low impact on the environment. These cells operate by utilizing carbon fuel in the range of temperatures of 673–973 K and allow for generation of electricity with an efficiency of about 56%. In order to improve the fuel conversion efficiency, the heat generated in the process of cell cooling can be used to prepare hot water, for heating during the heating season, while during the summer period, heat from cooling of the direct carbon fuel cells can be utilized in the process of cool air production (chilled air) using absorption chillers for e.g. air conditioning. This paper presents a case study and simulation calculations of the system composed of MH-DCFC that generates electricity, and runs heat exchangers and an absorption chiller, integrated with the fuel cell to generate heating and cooling for improving the efficiency of the whole system. The maximum heat and cool streams that can be obtained during the operation of the cell were also evaluated. The results obtained in the study can be helpful in the design of autonomous buildings equipped in direct carbon fuel cells as sources of electricity integrated with the systems of heat and cool generation.
Highlights
Noticeable tendencies in the development of energy technologies are being observed in the European Union and all over the world, with their major task being to increase generation capacity and to improve the efficiency of conversion of coal combined with activities commonly termed “sustainable development” [3,4]
The aim of the present paper is to present a new approach to effective recovery of waste heat generated in the MH-direct carbon fuel cell (DCFC) cell
The recovered heat would steam coil performing the role of heat exchanger that allows for heating water to the temperature be used to heat the air stream supplied to the MH-DCFC
Summary
Noticeable tendencies in the development of energy technologies are being observed in the European Union and all over the world, with their major task being to increase generation capacity and to improve the efficiency of conversion of coal (which is the largest source of energy for generating electricity and the most abundant fossil fuel in the world [1,2]) combined with activities commonly termed “sustainable development” [3,4]. Coal will still play an important role in energy systems that support sustainable development for the foreseeable future. This is because of coal’s unique combination of advantages: it is low-cost fuel, it is easy and safe to transport and store and it is available from a wide range of sources. Coal remains essential in achieving a diverse, balanced and secure energy mix. It can meet the growing energy needs of many developing countries. Electricity generation from coal generates several pollutants including CO2 (greenhouse gas (GHG)), SOx , NOx , particulate matter (PM) and heavy metals which are accumulated in air and Energies 2018, 11, 3061; doi:10.3390/en11113061 www.mdpi.com/journal/energies
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