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Electricity and Heat Transfer from Fuel Cells
Electricity output The DC output from the fuel cell is normally converted to constant
voltage AC by a power conditioner. This comprises a power inverter and possibly a transformer,
and a means of regulating the voltage.
Heat transfer
Both the fuel cell and the power conditioner are usually air cooled.
A significant proportion of the heat from the fuel cell reaction is used to supply the reforming reaction, steam and unutilised fuel being recirculated from the fuel cell to the reformer. With low temperature fuel cells using non-hydrogen fuels a direct source of heat is required to an external reformer as described in our review on reformers. The balance of heat from the fuel cell is exhausted to a heat exchanger for transfer to the distribution medium. This may be water, oil, steam, or hot air. Other potential sources of heat recovery include the external surfaces of the fuel cell, reformers, and preheaters; and the power conditioner.
If the fuel cell system is located in the same volume as the heat demand, heat transfer will be very
effective and simple to accomplish.
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Index of technical reviews |
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Heat and power flows within fuel cell system Courtesy American Electric Power |
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