Fuel Cell
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| Description | A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that uses oxygen and replenished fuel to produce electricity. Fuel cells can be designed as home fuel cells for a residential- scaled energy system and the technology can be used for micro combined heat and power systems. Combined heat and power cells have a superior efficiency by fulfilling heat and electricity demand from one system. A fuel cell converts natural gas, propane and biofuels into electricity and the byproducts heat, carbon dioxide and small amounts of NOx as exhaust. Electricity and heat will be produced as long as fuel is supplied to a fuel cell, which allows a residence to reduce overall energy consumption, carbon emissions and utility costs while being able to operate on-site within a home and 24 hours a day. There are many different types of fuel cells like the alkaline fuel cell (AFC), direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell, molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC), etc. where the most technologies are still at an early stage of development and not commercially available today. |
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| Advantages |
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| Disadvantages |
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| Characteristic features |
Higher efficiency by co-generation of electricity and heat by one single device. |
| Application barriers |
Fuel cells are very complex systems. |
| Information sources | http://www.fraunhofer.de/en/press/research-news/2014/june/the-fuel-cell-for-home.html http://www.fuelcellenergy.com/ http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/25257 http://energy.gov/eere/videos/energy-101-fuel-cell-technology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_fuel_cell http://www.fuelcells.org/ http://www.wbdg.org/resources/fuelcell.php |
| Image | |
| Trade: | Building services |
| Parameter | Minimal Value | Maximal Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel |
City gas (13A), Reformate, Natural Gas, Propane, Biofuels, Hydrogen and Air |
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| Total Volume |
dm3 | ||
| Dimensions |
W/H/D in mm | ||
| Weight Dry |
kg | ||
| Cooling Package |
dm3 | ||
| Maximum Net Power |
W | ||
| Nominal Voltage |
V | ||
| Current |
A | ||
| Maximum CO Emission |
lbs/MWh | ||
| Maximum CO2 Emission |
lbs/MWh | ||
| Maximum NOX Emission |
lbs/MWh | ||
| Sound Power Level |
dBA | ||
| Ambient Temperature Range |
°C | ||
| Fuel Flow Rate |
l/min | ||
| Input Fuel Pressure |
Bar | ||
| Electrical Efficiency (LHV) |
% | ||
| Heat Rate (HHV) |
% | ||
| Operating Efficiency |
% | ||
| Annual Degradation Rate in Efficiency |
% | ||
| Annual Produced Energy |
kWh | ||
| Investment Cost |
€ | ||
| Operating Cost |
Cent/kWh | ||
| Replacement Cost |
€/year | ||
| Life Expectancy |
hours |
| Deterioration | Description |
|---|---|
| Causes | |
| Parameter | |
| Degradation Rate | |
| Measurement |
| The Design4Energy project aims to address evolutionary life-cycle evolutionary design methodology able to create energy-efficient buildings flexibly connected with the neighbourhood energy system. | 
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BL(Ti)=0.788 
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