DefinePK

Abstract

This study deals with the energy analysis of a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell power system including burner, steam reformer, heat exchanger and water heater. This system has been considered to meet the electrical, heating, cooling and domestic hot water loads of a residential building located in Ahvaz. Natural gas is fuel of the system and system works in CHP mode. The energy requirements of residential building and the number of fuel cell stacks to meet them have been estimated. The method involved energy analysis and entropy generation through the months of the year. Results show that all the energy needs of the building can be met with 12 fuel cell stacks at a nominal capacity of 8.5 kW. Energy analysis of the CHP system shows that the increase in the ambient air temperature from 1oC to 40oC, will have an increase of entropy generation by 5.73%.Maximum entropy generates for 15 hour in 15th of June and 15th of July is estimated to amount at 12624 (kW/K). Entropy generation of this system through out a year is estimated to amount to 1004.54 GJ/k.year.