Analysis of the operating strategy of a SOFC based unit for thermal and electric residential loads

Arpino, Fausto;FRATTOLILLO, ANDREA;Massarotti, Nicola;Mauro, Alessandro;Pandolfi, L.

2013-01-01

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Abstract

In order to bring High Temperature Fuel Cells (HT-FCs) on the market, on-site experiments are crucial to understand HT-FCs based units performance and their actual applicability to residential power generation. The authors present here the results of recent experimental and numerical analysis conducted on a micro-cogenerative Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) based unit. A new measurement system has been designed by the authors on the basis of an a-priori uncertainty analysis, and additional meters have been installed in order to perform an a-posteriori uncertainty analysis. Effective application of HT-FCs to residential use has been studied using the validated numerical model developed by the authors in order to follow electric and thermal loads, and technical and economic analysis have been carried out.