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: CH 4 +2H 2 O  CO 2 + 4H 2  Electrolysis: 2H 2 O + energy  2H 2 + O 2

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 Cell Efficiency = 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 / Turbine Efficiency = 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.  2H 2 +O 2  2H 2 O + 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 coal440 Conventional with gasoline370 Conventional with natural gas310 Hybrid with gasoline190 Hybrid with natural gas170 Fuel Cell with hydrogen from reforming 140