Fuel cell systems for small and micro combined heat and power (CHP) applications

Fuel cells are electrochemical energy conversion devices that turn chemical fuel directly into electrical power as well as generating heat. They operate at high efficiency and can be applied across a wide range of applications. Micro-combined heat and power (CHP) is one area in which fuel cells are expected to have a particularly significant impact with the potential for lowering energy cost and CO2 emissions in the residential housing sector. This chapter looks at the technological aspects of fuel cells applied to micro- and small-scale CHP applications as well as examining the state of commercial development and future trends. © 2011 Woodhead Publishing Limited All rights reserved

Fuel Cells

Fuel cells are electrochemical devices capable of converting the chemical energy of a fuel (usually hydrogen, but also hydrocarbons and alcohols) into electricity and heat. Positive characteristics like high efficiency, low pollutant emissions and few maintenance requirements motivated a strong interest in this technology during the last decades, with R&D activities on different fuel cell types and applications going on around the world. In this chapter, after an introduction regarding the general features of the technology and the main development focuses, a particular attention is devoted to the types that currently dominate the market and the research: the Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC) and the Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC). The corresponding sections present the state of the art of these technologies, together with the technical targets for future developments, as well as existing and prospective applications