TO HOMEPAGE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
FUEL
CELLS - Desktop Study
|
Contents: | 1.
Basic
principles 2. Characteristics 3. Fuel cell types 4. Fuel cell efficiency 5. Our choice of fuel cell |
5. TYPE OF FUEL CELL TO USE IN A
PV-FUEL CELL HYBRID SYSTEM
In our application of a stand-alone PV-fuel cell hybrid system powering a residential building, it is recommend to use a low temperature fuel cell, as the heat generated by the electrochemical reaction can not be used massively on
a domestic scale. Also high temperature fuel cells need to use energy to warm up, and as a backup energy supply would need to be kept warm as long as there is a possibility of there being an energy demand.
Therefore, two different types of fuel cells can be used:
- PEM Proton Exchange membrane
- AFC Alkaline Fuel Cell
Pure hydrogen is used to power both types of fuel cell. The efficiency of the alkaline fuel cell is much higher (70%) than the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (40%) and their prices are approximately the same (about £ 4000). Therefore the
alkaline fuel cell has been chosen as an energy backup supply for our application.
Enquiries and comments to pvhydrogen@strath.ac.uk Energy Systems Research Unit University of Strathclyde Glasgow |