Investigations on a Test Bench for Integrated ORC-FC Micro-CHP Energy Systems

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bianchi ◽  
A. De Pascale ◽  
F. Melino ◽  
A. Peretto ◽  
L. Branchini
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Test Bench ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Variable Load ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Calculation Code

Micro-CHP (Combined Heat and Power) energy systems are potentially suitable for residential and tertiary utilities, typically characterized by low-grade heat demand and limited electric-to-thermal energy demand ratio values. Different innovative and under development CHP technologies are currently investigated in small scale units, but a standard has not been identified till now. Moreover, depending on the load request, the produced electricity can be used, stored in electric accumulator or in the external net, or integrated with other external sources. Contextually, the available heat can be used, accumulated inside the system or dissipated. The actual convenience of small size CHP systems depends on the demand profiles and the operation management logic. A test facility is being developed, at the University of Bologna, for the experimental characterization of the cogenerative performance of small scale hybrid power systems, composed of micro-CHP systems of different technologies: a Micro Rankine Cycles (MRC), a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells (FC), a battery and a heat recovery subsystem. The test set-up is also integrated with an external load simulator, in order to generate variable load profiles. This report describes the main characteristics of the implemented test bench, the selection procedure of the adopted micro-CHP unit and expected performance. Further the development of a calculation code able to simulate the performance of the considered systems will be described. This calculation code has been applied to design the components of the test bench. More in details, in this paper the sizing of the electrical energy storage system, and of the thermal and H2 storage tanks will be presented and discussed.

Thermo-Economic Analysis of a Photovoltaic-Fuel Cell Hybrid System With Energy Storage for CHP Production in Household Sector

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Ancona ◽  
M. Bianchi ◽  
A. De Pascale ◽  
F. Melino ◽  
A. Peretto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Power System ◽  
Hybrid System ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Optimal Size ◽  
Photovoltaic Array ◽  
Continuous Power

The penetration of renewable sources, particularly wind and solar, into the grid has been increasing in recent years. As a consequence, there have been serious concerns over reliable and safety operation of power systems. One possible solution, to improve grid integrity, is to integrate energy storage devices into power system network: storing energy produced in periods of low demand to later use, ensuring full exploitation of intermittent available sources. Focusing on photovoltaic energy system, energy storage is needed with the purpose of ensuring continuous power flow to minimize or to neglect electrical grid supply. A comprehensive study on a hybrid micro-CHP system based on photovoltaic panels using hydrogen as energy storage technologies has been performed. This study examines the feasibility of replacing electricity provided by the grid with a hybrid system to meet household demand. This paper is a part of an experimental and a theoretical study which is currently under development at University of Bologna where a test facility is under construction for the experimental characterization of a small scale cogenerative power system. This paper presents the theoretical results of a hybrid system performance simulations made of a photovoltaic array an electrolyzer with a H2 tank and a Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell stack designed to satisfy typical household electrical demand. The performance of this system have been evaluated by the use of a calculation code, in-house developed by the University of Bologna. Results of the carried out parametric investigations identify photovoltaic and fuel cell systems’ optimal size in order to minimize the purchasing of electrical energy from the grid. Future activities will be the tuning of the software with the experimental results, in order to realize a code able to define the correct size of each sub-system, once the load profile of the utility is known or estimated.

scholarly journals A Novel Method for Analyzing Highly Renewable and Sector-coupled Sub-national Energy Systems–Case Study of Schleswig-Holstein

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Nasimul Islam Maruf
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Heat Pumps ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Ground Source Heat Pumps ◽  
Feasible Solutions

The energy transition requires integration of different energy carriers, including electricity, heat, and transport sectors. Energy modeling methods and tools are essential to provide a clear insight into the energy transition. However, the methodologies often overlook the details of small-scale energy systems. The study states an innovative approach to facilitate sub-national energy systems with 100% renewable penetration and sectoral integration. An optimization model, OSeEM-SN, is developed under the Oemof framework. The model is validated using the case study of Schleswig-Holstein. The study assumes three scenarios representing 25%, 50%, and 100% of the total available biomass potentials. OSeEM-SN reaches feasible solutions without additional offshore wind investment, indicating that they can be reserved for supplying other states’ energy demand. The annual investment cost varies between 1.02 bn – 1.44 bn €/yr for the three scenarios. The electricity generation decreases by 17%, indicating that with high biomass-based combined heat and power plants, the curtailment from other renewable plants can be decreased. Ground source heat pumps dominate the heat mix; however, their installation decreases by 28% as the biomass penetrates fully into the energy mix. The validation confirms OSeEM-SN as a beneficial tool to examine different scenarios for sub-national energy systems.

Performance Analysis of PEMFC Based Grid-connected Distributed Generation System

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alper Nabi AKPOLAT ◽  
Erkan Dursun
Keyword(s):  
Performance Analysis ◽  
Power Systems ◽  
Distributed Generation ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Generation System

Abstract Background: Less energy consumption and more efficient use of fossil-fueled technologies are among the sustainable energy targets of modern societies. The essential activities to be achieved under these objectives are to increase the distributed generation structures and increase their applicability. The distributed generation (DG) is a small-scale version of the traditional power grid, which is supported by micro turbines, hydrogen fuel cells, wind turbines, photovoltaic (PV) modules, combine heat and power systems, and energy storage units. Methods: The aim of this research is to detail performance analyze and unit sizing of proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)-based grid-connected distributed generation system with the help of empirical calculations. To this end, we tried to establish the system and analyze the performance of reliable operation of the system with experimental verifications.Results and Conclusions: The results demonstrate the situation of annual production about how much rated power can be generated through the real meteorological data to dispatch the power to the constant variable loads. While, 53.56% of the total energy demand is met by the utility grid, 46.44% of the demand is met by the produced energy i.e., from microgrid. The PEMFC based hybrid microgrid at Marmara University, Faculty of Technology was analyzed in detail in this study. According to the results of the performance analysis, the important points that will be highlighted and will help the researchers working in this field are as follows. Our results are encouraging and can be validated by a larger sample size with the fine weather conditions in terms of the percentage of procurement of energy.

scholarly journals A Novel Method for Analyzing Highly Renewable and Sector-Coupled Subnational Energy Systems—Case Study of Schleswig-Holstein

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3852
Author(s):  
Md. Nasimul Islam Maruf
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Energy Modeling ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Ground Source Heat Pumps

The energy transition requires an integration of different energy carriers, including electricity, heat, and transport sectors. Energy modeling methods and tools are essential to provide a clear insight into the energy transition. However, the methodologies often overlook the details of small-scale energy systems. The study states an innovative approach to facilitate subnational energy systems with 100% renewable penetration and sectoral integration. An optimization model, the “Open Sector-coupled Energy Model for Subnational Energy Systems” (OSeEM–SN), was developed under the Open Energy Modeling Framework (Oemof). The model is validated using the case study of Schleswig-Holstein. The study assumes three scenarios representing 25%, 50%, and 100% of the total available biomass potentials. OSeEM–SN reaches feasible solutions without additional offshore wind investment, indicating that it can be reserved for supplying other states’ energy demand. The annual investment cost varies between 1.02 and 1.44 bn €/year for the three scenarios. The electricity generation decreases by 17%, indicating that, with high biomass-based combined heat and power plants, the curtailment from other renewable plants can be decreased. Ground source heat pumps dominate the heat mix; however, their installation decreases by 28% as the biomass penetrates fully into the energy mix. The validation confirms OSeEM–SN as a beneficial tool to examine different scenarios for subnational energy systems.

A Thermoeconomics-Based Approach to the Integrated Optimization of Design and Operation for Decentralised Energy Systems and Variable Load Conditions

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Piacentino ◽  
Fabio Cardona
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
Power Systems ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Economic Indicator ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Variable Load ◽  
Industrial Energy ◽  
High Level

The many comprehensive approaches formulated for the optimization of large industrial energy systems have been rarely applied to small and medium scale units, because of the difficulties in handling a continuously variable energy demand and of the lower margins for energy and emissions saving. Today, the growing interest for decentralised energy systems in the civil sector stimulates major efforts for the optimization of such plants, with a particular focus on the control system and on a management strategy able to exploit the opportunities existing in the free energy market. In this paper a methodology is proposed for the optimization of design and operation of variable demand systems supplying different non-storable products. In such systems, efficiency penalty due to off-design operation is usually assumed as a key issue; the proposed method, however, introduces an original and meaningful interpretation of the capital depreciation cost and keeps into account the possibility for grid connected power systems to produce surplus electricity to be sold. The proposed optimization process, based on the Lagrange multipliers method, assumes either an economic indicator (the Net Present Value, NPV or the Net Cash Flow, NCF) or a function depending only on fuel consumption (as usually proposed in literature) as objective function. Main advantages of the proposed method are the high level of integration between the optimization of design and operation and the possibility to automate the algorithm in order to drive a real-time optimized control system aiming to achieve the maximum profitability or the maximum primary energy saving.

scholarly journals A Novel Method for Analyzing 100% Renewable and Sector-coupled Sub-national Energy Systems–Case Study of Schleswig-Holstein

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Nasimul Islam Maruf
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Heat Pumps ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Ground Source Heat Pumps ◽  
Feasible Solutions

The energy transition requires integration of different energy carriers, including electricity, heat, and transport sectors. Energy modeling methods and tools are essential to provide a clear insight into the energy transition. However, the methodologies often overlook the details of small-scale energy systems. The study states an innovative approach to facilitate sub-national energy systems with 100% renewable penetration and sectoral integration. An optimization model, OSeEM-SN, is developed under the Oemof framework. The model is validated using the case study of Schleswig-Holstein. The study assumes three scenarios representing 25%, 50%, and 100% of the total available biomass potentials. OSeEM-SN reaches feasible solutions without additional offshore wind investment, indicating that they can be reserved for supplying other states’ energy demand. The annual investment cost varies between 1.02 bn – 1.44 bn €/yr for the three scenarios. The electricity generation decreases by 17%, indicating that with high biomass-based combined heat and power plants, the curtailment from other renewable plants can be decreased. Ground source heat pumps dominate the heat mix; however, their installation decreases by 28% as the biomass penetrates fully into the energy mix. The validation confirms OSeEM-SN as a beneficial tool to examine different scenarios for sub-national energy systems.

A Critical Review of Water Transport Models in Gas Diffusion Media of PEM Fuel Cell

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob LaManna ◽  
Satish G. Kandlikar
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Water Transport ◽  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Cathode Side ◽  
Small Scale

Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells are gaining popularity as a replacement to the internal combustion engine in automobiles. This application will demand high levels of performance from the fuel cell making it critical that proper water management is maintained. One of the areas of interest in water management is the transport of water through the Gas Diffusion Medium (GDM) on the cathode side of the cell. Research is currently being conducted to understand how water moves through the porous structure of the GDM. Due to the small scale of the GDM, most work done is analytical modeling. This paper will focus on reviewing current models for water transport within the GDM of a PEM fuel cell to address state of the art and provide recommendations for future work to extend current models.

scholarly journals Energy Flexibility as Additional Energy Source in Multi-Energy Systems with District Cooling

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 519
Author(s):  
Alice Mugnini ◽  
Gianluca Coccia ◽  
Fabio Polonara ◽  
Alessia Arteconi
Keyword(s):  
Energy Source ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Variable Load ◽  
Additional Energy ◽  
The Impact

The integration of multi-energy systems to meet the energy demand of buildings represents one of the most promising solutions for improving the energy performance of the sector. The energy flexibility provided by the building is paramount to allowing optimal management of the different available resources. The objective of this work is to highlight the effectiveness of exploiting building energy flexibility provided by thermostatically controlled loads (TCLs) in order to manage multi-energy systems (MES) through model predictive control (MPC), such that energy flexibility can be regarded as an additional energy source in MESs. Considering the growing demand for space cooling, a case study in which the MPC is used to satisfy the cooling demand of a reference building is tested. The multi-energy sources include electricity from the power grid and photovoltaic modules (both of which are used to feed a variable-load heat pump), and a district cooling network. To evaluate the varying contributions of energy flexibility in resource management, different objective functions—namely, the minimization of the withdrawal of energy from the grid, of the total energy cost and of the total primary energy consumption—are tested in the MPC. The results highlight that using energy flexibility as an additional energy source makes it possible to achieve improvements in the energy performance of an MES building based on the objective function implemented, i.e., a reduction of 53% for the use of electricity taken from the grid, a 43% cost reduction, and a 17% primary energy reduction. This paper also reflects on the impact that the individual optimization of a building with a multi-energy system could have on other users sharing the same energy sources.

scholarly journals Reduced Graphene Oxide-Supported Pt-Based Catalysts for PEM Fuel Cells with Enhanced Activity and Stability

Catalysts ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 256
Author(s):  
Irina V. Pushkareva ◽  
Artem S. Pushkarev ◽  
Valery N. Kalinichenko ◽  
Ratibor G. Chumakov ◽  
Maksim A. Soloviev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Graphene Oxide ◽  
Reduced Graphene Oxide ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Polyol Process ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Active Surface Area ◽  
Electrochemical Performances ◽  
Simultaneous Reduction ◽  
Reduced Graphene

Platinum (Pt)-based electrocatalysts supported by reduced graphene oxide (RGO) were synthesized using two different methods, namely: (i) a conventional two-step polyol process using RGO as the substrate, and (ii) a modified polyol process implicating the simultaneous reduction of a Pt nanoparticle precursor and graphene oxide (GO). The structure, morphology, and electrochemical performances of the obtained Pt/RGO catalysts were studied and compared with a reference Pt/carbon black Vulcan XC-72 (C) sample. It was shown that the Pt/RGO obtained by the optimized simultaneous reduction process had higher Pt utilization and electrochemically active surface area (EASA) values, and a better performance stability. The use of this catalyst at the cathode of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) led to an increase in its maximum power density of up to 17%, and significantly enhanced its performance especially at high current densities. It is possible to conclude that the optimized synthesis procedure allows for a more uniform distribution of the Pt nanoparticles and ensures better binding of the particles to the surface of the support. The advantages of Pt/RGO synthesized in this way over conventional Pt/C are the high electrical conductivity and specific surface area provided by RGO, as well as a reduction in the percolation limit of the components of the electrocatalytic layer due to the high aspect ratio of RGO.

scholarly journals Exploring the Structure–Performance Relationship of Sulfonated Polysulfone Proton Exchange Membrane by a Combined Computational and Experimental Approach

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 959
Author(s):  
Cataldo Simari ◽  
Mario Prejanò ◽  
Ernestino Lufrano ◽  
Emilia Sicilia ◽  
Isabella Nicotera
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Mechanical Stability ◽  
Structural Parameters ◽  
Hydration Number ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Water Dynamics ◽  
Mechanical Resistance ◽  
Theoretical Simulation ◽  
Sulfonated Polysulfone

Sulfonated Polysulfone (sPSU) is emerging as a concrete alternative to Nafion ionomer for the development of proton exchange electrolytic membranes for low cost, environmentally friendly and high-performance PEM fuel cells. This ionomer has recently gained great consideration since it can effectively combine large availability on the market, excellent film-forming ability and remarkable thermo-mechanical resistance with interesting proton conductive properties. Despite the great potential, however, the morphological architecture of hydrated sPSU is still unknown. In this study, computational and experimental advanced tools are combined to preliminary describe the relationship between the microstructure of highly sulfonated sPSU (DS = 80%) and its physico-chemical, mechanical and electrochemical features. Computer simulations allowed for describing the architecture and to estimate the structural parameters of the sPSU membrane. Molecular dynamics revealed an interconnected lamellar-like structure for hydrated sPSU, with ionic clusters of about 14–18 Å in diameter corresponding to the hydrophilic sulfonic-acid-containing phase. Water dynamics were investigated by 1H Pulsed Field Gradient (PFG) NMR spectroscopy in a wide temperature range (20–120 °C) and the self-diffusion coefficients data were analyzed by a “two-sites” model. It allows to estimate the hydration number in excellent agreement with the theoretical simulation (e.g., about 8 mol H2O/mol SO3− @ 80 °C). The PEM performance was assessed in terms of dimensional, thermo-mechanical and electrochemical properties by swelling tests, DMA and EIS, respectively. The peculiar microstructure of sPSU provides a wider thermo-mechanical stability in comparison to Nafion, but lower dimensional and conductive features. Nonetheless, the single H2/O2 fuel cell assembled with sPSU exhibited better features than any earlier published hydrocarbon ionomers, thus opening interesting perspectives toward the design and preparation of high-performing sPSU-based PEMs.

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