CHP & Fuel Cells at Home

Combined Heat and Power (CHP)aka “Cogeneration”

Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

•Distributed Generation: generating electric power at a site•Waste heat can be used for heating or for air conditioning

Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

• CHP systems have efficiencies up to 85%

Hydrogen Fuel Cell

On site power and CHP systems – reliable and clean.

                                                                                                     

FuelCell Energy

Based in Danbury

Produces Direct Fuel Cells

Stationary not mobile

Distributed Generation

Eastern is considering a 1 MW unit similar to this.

UTC Power

Based in Hartford

Produces Fuel Cells

Both Stationary and mobile

Car engines are very expensive

Connecticut Global Fuel Cell Center

Engineering research center at UConn

Hydrogen Sources

Steam reforming of natural gas:

CH4 +2H2O CO2 + 4H2

Electrolysis:

2H2O + energy 2H2 + O2

Energy Source for Electrolyzer

Electrolysis requires energy.

Energy could come from Solar, Nuclear, or Wind.

In the short term, it would probably come from coal.

Steam Reforming

Cheap way to produce H2 gas.

Releases CO2 .

Electrolysis

Expensive way to produce H2 gas.

May not produce CO2 or CO2 is easier to capture.

Direct Fuel CellEfficiency = 40% - 60%

Reforms natural gas to make hydrogen for use in fuel cell.Fuel cells are very expensive and require expensive maintenance.

Direct Fuel Cell / TurbineEfficiency = 75%

Use waste heat from fuel cell to run turbine to generate electricity.

Residential Fuel Cells

Fuel Cell Vehicles

Internal Combustion Engine

Engine – 20% efficient

Only 20% of gasoline energy is converted to motion.

Fuel Cells and the Hydrogen Economy

Fuels Cells use hydrogen to produce electrical energy. They do not burn hydrogen.

2H2 +O2 2H2O + energy

Fuel cells could be used to power cars with hydrogen as the fuel.

Clean fuel

Barriers to Hydrogen Cars

Still in development

Expensive On-vehicle

storage of hydrogen fuel

Availability of hydrogen fuel

Infrastructure

Vehicle Carbon Emission(grams per mile)

Fuel Cell with electricity from coal 440

Conventional with gasoline 370

Conventional with natural gas 310

Hybrid with gasoline 190

Hybrid with natural gas 170

Fuel Cell with hydrogen from reforming

140