An Analysis of a Micro Cogeneration System Composed of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell, Microturbine, and H2O/LiBr Absorption Refrigerator

Abstract

A micro cogeneration system composed of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and a microturbine (MT) and an absorption refrigerator is analyzed thermodynamically. The performance analysis is conducted on the basis of the balance of macroscopic mass and energy with additional empirical correlations and operating data. First, the basic characteristics of the power generation (SOFC+MT) section and the absorption refrigerator section are clarified. Second, under the conditions of the cell temperature of 900 °C and the turbine inlet temperature of 900 °C, the optimum design points are determined. Furthermore, the annual energy saving obtained by the present system is also evaluated in the light of energy-use data for Japan. As a result, the annual fuel consumption is reduced by 32%, 36% and 42%, for apartments, offices and hotels, respectively.

Keywords

• distributed power generation
• microturbine
• solid oxide fuel cell
• absorption refrigerator
• system analysis