US20100227239A1 - Method and apparatus for operating a fuel cell in combination with an absorption chiller - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for operating a fuel cell in combination with an absorption chiller Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20100227239A1 US20100227239A1 US12/279,602 US27960208A US2010227239A1 US 20100227239 A1 US20100227239 A1 US 20100227239A1 US 27960208 A US27960208 A US 27960208A US 2010227239 A1 US2010227239 A1 US 2010227239A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- heat
- coolant
- loop
- absorption chiller
- fuel cell
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
- H01M8/04007—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids related to heat exchange
- H01M8/04029—Heat exchange using liquids
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/08—Fuel cells with aqueous electrolytes
- H01M8/086—Phosphoric acid fuel cells [PAFC]
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M2250/00—Fuel cells for particular applications; Specific features of fuel cell system
- H01M2250/40—Combination of fuel cells with other energy production systems
- H01M2250/405—Cogeneration of heat or hot water
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02B90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02B90/10—Applications of fuel cells in buildings
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
- Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
Definitions
- This invention relates generally to fuel cell power plants and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for using an absorption chiller in combination therewith.
- a fuel cell is an electrochemical cell which consumes fuel and an oxidant on a continuous basis to generate electrical energy.
- the fuel is consumed at an anode and the oxidant at a cathode.
- the anode and cathode are placed in electrochemical communication by an electrolyte.
- One typical fuel cell employs a phosphoric acid electrolyte.
- the phosphoric acid fuel cell uses air to provide oxygen as an oxidant to the cathode and uses a hydrogen rich stream to provide hydrogen as a fuel to the anode. After passing through the cell, the depleted air and fuel streams are vented from the system on a continuous basis.
- a typical fuel cell power plant comprises one or more stacks of fuel cells, the cells within each stack being connected electrically in series to raise the voltage potential of the stack.
- a stack may be connected in parallel with other stacks to increase the current generating capability of the power plant.
- a stack of fuel cells may comprise a half dozen cells or less, or as many as several hundred cells. Air and fuel are usually fed to the cells by one or more manifolds per stack.
- waste heat is a by-product of the steam reforming process for conversion of fuel to a hydrogen rich steam, electrochemical reactions and the heat generation associated with current transport within the cell components.
- a cooling system must be provided for removing the waste heat from a stack of fuel cells so as to maintain the temperature of the cells at a uniform level which is consistent with the properties of the material used in the cells and the operating characteristics of the cells. This has typically been accomplished by circulating a coolant, such as water, through the fuel cell stack to cool the cells to the required level, with the temperature of the water emanating from the fuel stack being relatively high (i.e. over 300° F.). While temperature of 300-350° F.
- the heat exchanger is removed from the standard equipment provided with a fuel cell generating plant such that the temperature of the waste heat emanating therefrom is elevated from a relatively low to an intermediate temperature which, when applied to an absorption chiller, is more efficient in the chilling of water.
- the high temperature coolant is caused to flow directly to the absorption chiller generator so as to provide greater efficiency in the operation of the chiller.
- a single effect absorption chiller is replaced with a double effect absorption chiller, with the high temperature stack coolant then flowing directly to the chiller generator, thereby resulting in even greater efficiencies.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a fuel cell power plant being used in combination with a single effect adsorption chiller in accordance with the prior art.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a fuel cell power plant as used in combination with a single effect absorption chiller in accordance with the prior art.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a fuel cell power plant as being used in combination with a double effect absorption chiller in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a fuel cell power plant as used in combination with a single effect absorption chiller in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a fuel cell power plant as used in the combination with a single effect absorption chiller in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention.
- a power plant apparatus 11 is shown within the dashed lines and includes a power generation portion 12 and a cooling portion 13 .
- the power generation portion 12 includes a fuel cell stack 14 and a fuel processing system 16 both of which produce waste heat, which passes through the respective exhaust ducts 17 and 18 to a plant exhaust stack 19 where it is discharged to ambient.
- a heat exchanger 21 to which is transferred a portion of the heat from the exhaust ducts 17 and 18 .
- Such heat is considered to be low grade heat that is passed to the low grade heat circulation loop 22 as part of the cooling portion 13 of the system.
- the temperature of the circulating liquid passing through the heat exchanger 21 is on the order of 160° F.
- a liquid such as water
- the liquid coolant in this loop is at a relatively high temperature (i.e. in the range of 310-335° F.), and is considered to be high grade heat.
- the closed loop 27 is thus considered to be a high grade heat loop.
- high grade heat is herein defined as waste heat from a fuel cell power plant that is transferred to a coolant loop with the coolant being heated to a temperature level of about or over 250° F.
- low grade heat is defined as waste heat from a fuel cell power plant that is transferred to a coolant loop with the coolant being heated to a temperature level of about 140° F.
- the primary heat exchanger 28 is a liquid to liquid heat exchanger of the counter-flow type such as a concentric tube heat exchanger. Its function is to transfer some of the heat from the fuel cell stack coolant, so that it is cooled from a relatively high temperature (i.e., 310-335° F.) to a temperature of about 250° F., which coolant is then circulated back into the fuel cell stack 14 .
- a liquid coolant flowing through the primary heat exchanger 28 picks up heat and is heated to a temperature from around 160° F. to around 190°.
- a secondary heat exchanger 29 is provided to reduce the temperature thereof by a heat exchange relationship with an auxiliary apparatus 30 as will be described.
- the temperature is reduced from around 190° F. to around 150° F., after which it passes through the heat exchanger 31 , which is an ambient heat rejection unit in the form of a liquid to air heat exchanger. As the coolant passes through this heat exchanger, its temperature is reduced from around 180° F. to around 100° F., with the rejected heat passing to the atmosphere.
- the heat exchanger 31 which is an ambient heat rejection unit in the form of a liquid to air heat exchanger.
- a bypass line 33 is therefore provided to pass the coolant directly from the pump 32 to the ambient heat rejection unit 31 .
- auxiliary apparatus 30 one of the uses that has been made of the heat from the secondary heat exchanger 29 is that of driving an adsorption chiller 34 as shown in FIG. 1 or a similar single effect absorption chiller 36 as shown in FIG. 2 .
- the boiler or generator 37 is heated by the liquid in secondary loop 38 of the exchanger 29 , with the temperature of the input flow of around 150° F. being reduced to around 140° F. at the outlet from the generator 37 .
- the water to be chilled passes into the adsorption chiller 34 by way of a line 39 and out by way of line 41 .
- a cooling tower 42 is provided to cool the liquid flowing in the inlet line 43 from around 90° F. to around 85° F. as it flows in the outlet line 44 .
- the temperatures of the various liquids passing into and out of the chiller 46 are substantially the same as those for the adsorption chiller as shown in FIG. 1 .
- the power plant apparatus has been modified from its standard configuration by removing the secondary heat exchanger 29 .
- the coolant from the fuel cell stack 14 first transferring its heat to the coolant in the circulation loop 22 by way of the primary heat exchanger 28 and then having the coolant in the circulation loop 22 being applied indirectly to the auxiliary apparatus 30 by way of the secondary heat exchanger 29
- the high temperature (i.e. 310° F.-335° F.) coolant from the fuel cell stack is applied directly to an auxiliary apparatus 45 by way of line 46 as shown in FIG. 3 .
- this high temperature liquid it is possible to use a different type of auxiliary apparatus 45 and one which is more efficient than the prior art auxiliary apparatus 30 as shown in FIGS.
- a double effect absorption chiller 47 with a high stage generator 48 is installed, with the high temperature liquid in line 46 providing the heat for the high stage generator 48 .
- the applicant has found that a substantial improvement in cooling capacity can be obtained.
- a single system has been found to provide 27-38 refrigeration tons as compared with twenty refrigerant tons of the prior art systems.
- a COP greater than 1.0 has been obtained with such a system as compared with a COP of 0.6 for the prior art systems.
- the high temperature fluid After the high temperature fluid has passed through the high stage generator 48 and had its temperature reduced to around 250° F., rather than being returned to the circulation loop 22 as in the prior art, it is caused to flow by line 49 directly to the closed loop 27 , at a point downstream of the primary heat exchanger 28 , as shown in FIG. 3 . That fluid is combined with the other fluids in the closed loop 27 is now at a temperature of around 250° F. and is returned to the fuel cell stack 14 for the cooling thereof.
- the FIG. 4 embodiment is substantially the same as that of FIG. 3 except that the double effect absorption chiller 47 is replaced with a single effect absorption chiller 34 having a generator 37 .
- this is the same absorption chiller that is used in the FIG. 1 embodiment, it should be recognized that, with the removal of the heat exchanger 29 and the application of the high grade heat liquid directly to the generator 37 , greater efficiencies can be achieved to increase the capacity to 25 refrigeration tons with a COP of over 0.7.
- the chiller of the FIG. 4 embodiment can be made cheaper than the chiller of the FIG. 2 embodiment because the heat exchanger for the generator 37 is less expensive since it is operated by employing higher temperatures and therefore does not have to operate as efficiently as the exchanger in the generator of the FIG. 2 embodiment.
- the low grade heat coolant in the circulation loop 22 after picking up heat from the high grade heat loop 27 , is made to flow directly into the generator 37 from the heat exchanger 28 by way of line 51 .
- the temperature of that coolant is in the range of 190° F.-240° F.
- the coolant is passed to the heat exchanger 31 by way of line 52 and then along line 35 to the heat exchanger 21 as shown.
- the efficiency is improved over the FIG. 1 embodiment and is substantially equal to that for the FIG. 4 embodiment. That is, it will provide a cooling capacity of around 25 refrigeration tons and a COP of over 0.7.
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Sustainable Development (AREA)
- Sustainable Energy (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Electrochemistry (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Sorption Type Refrigeration Machines (AREA)
- Fuel Cell (AREA)
Abstract
A standard phosphoric acid fuel cell power plant (11) has its heat exchanger (29) removed such that a higher temperature coolant flow can be directed from the system to the generator (37) of an absorption chiller (34). In one embodiment, the higher temperature coolant may flow directly from the fuel cell stack (14) to the generator and after passing therethrough, it is routed back to the high temperature coolant loop (27). In another embodiment, the higher temperature coolant is made to transfer some of its heat to a lower temperature coolant and the lower temperature coolant is then made to flow directly to the generator and back to the lower temperature coolant loop (22). In the first embodiment, either a double effect absorption chiller or a single effect absorption chiller is used, while in the second embodiment a single effect absorption chiller is used.
Description
- This invention relates generally to fuel cell power plants and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for using an absorption chiller in combination therewith.
- A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell which consumes fuel and an oxidant on a continuous basis to generate electrical energy. The fuel is consumed at an anode and the oxidant at a cathode. The anode and cathode are placed in electrochemical communication by an electrolyte. One typical fuel cell employs a phosphoric acid electrolyte. The phosphoric acid fuel cell uses air to provide oxygen as an oxidant to the cathode and uses a hydrogen rich stream to provide hydrogen as a fuel to the anode. After passing through the cell, the depleted air and fuel streams are vented from the system on a continuous basis.
- A typical fuel cell power plant comprises one or more stacks of fuel cells, the cells within each stack being connected electrically in series to raise the voltage potential of the stack. A stack may be connected in parallel with other stacks to increase the current generating capability of the power plant. Depending upon the size of the power plant, a stack of fuel cells may comprise a half dozen cells or less, or as many as several hundred cells. Air and fuel are usually fed to the cells by one or more manifolds per stack.
- In each of the fuel cells, waste heat is a by-product of the steam reforming process for conversion of fuel to a hydrogen rich steam, electrochemical reactions and the heat generation associated with current transport within the cell components. Accordingly, a cooling system must be provided for removing the waste heat from a stack of fuel cells so as to maintain the temperature of the cells at a uniform level which is consistent with the properties of the material used in the cells and the operating characteristics of the cells. This has typically been accomplished by circulating a coolant, such as water, through the fuel cell stack to cool the cells to the required level, with the temperature of the water emanating from the fuel stack being relatively high (i.e. over 300° F.). While temperature of 300-350° F. are acceptable for industrial or large campus customers, which are relatively few in number, those temperature are too hot for most main stream commercial customers. Thus, low grade and high grade customer heat exchangers were added to ensure ease of integration with most commercial customer heat transfer equipment. That is, these heat exchangers and cooling loops were added to reduce the temperature down to a useful level (i.e. around 150° F.) for ordinary boiling uses such as boiler feed water, heating coils in the air handling systems, radiant heating, hydraulic heating, laundry and household use. These exchanges also served the purpose of protecting the cell stack from possible contaminants in the customer side loops. Such a design has thus become the standard in the industry, with all fuel cell plants being sold with the associated heat exchangers installed as standard equipment.
- One application that has recently come into use is that of applying the hot water available as low grade heat as a source of heat to drive either absorption chillers for the generation of chilled water for space cooling. While this does make use of the waste heat from the fuel cell power plant, it has been found to be a relatively inefficient use of an absorption chiller. That is, the major drawback with using customer heat exchangers it that the addition of another heat transfer loop leads to thermal losses and driving force losses, as these external loops must operate at lower temperatures.
- Briefly, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, the heat exchanger is removed from the standard equipment provided with a fuel cell generating plant such that the temperature of the waste heat emanating therefrom is elevated from a relatively low to an intermediate temperature which, when applied to an absorption chiller, is more efficient in the chilling of water.
- In accordance with another aspect of the invention, rather than passing through the heat exchange process to reduce the temperature of the stack coolant to a relatively low or intermediate temperature, the high temperature coolant is caused to flow directly to the absorption chiller generator so as to provide greater efficiency in the operation of the chiller.
- In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a single effect absorption chiller is replaced with a double effect absorption chiller, with the high temperature stack coolant then flowing directly to the chiller generator, thereby resulting in even greater efficiencies.
- In the drawings as hereinafter described, a preferred embodiment and modified embodiments are depicted; however, various other modifications and alternate constructions can be made thereto without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a fuel cell power plant being used in combination with a single effect adsorption chiller in accordance with the prior art. -
FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a fuel cell power plant as used in combination with a single effect absorption chiller in accordance with the prior art. -
FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a fuel cell power plant as being used in combination with a double effect absorption chiller in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a fuel cell power plant as used in combination with a single effect absorption chiller in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a fuel cell power plant as used in the combination with a single effect absorption chiller in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention. - Referring now to
FIG. 1 , apower plant apparatus 11 is shown within the dashed lines and includes apower generation portion 12 and acooling portion 13. Thepower generation portion 12 includes afuel cell stack 14 and afuel processing system 16 both of which produce waste heat, which passes through therespective exhaust ducts plant exhaust stack 19 where it is discharged to ambient. Within thestack 19 is aheat exchanger 21 to which is transferred a portion of the heat from theexhaust ducts heat circulation loop 22 as part of thecooling portion 13 of the system. The temperature of the circulating liquid passing through theheat exchanger 21 is on the order of 160° F. - In order to reduce the high temperatures within the
fuel cell stack 14, a liquid, such as water, is passed by way of aninlet line 23, into and through thefuel cell stack 14 and out anoutlet line 24, with apump 26 maintaining the flow through the closedloop 27. The liquid coolant in this loop is at a relatively high temperature (i.e. in the range of 310-335° F.), and is considered to be high grade heat. The closedloop 27 is thus considered to be a high grade heat loop. - For purposes of this description, high grade heat is herein defined as waste heat from a fuel cell power plant that is transferred to a coolant loop with the coolant being heated to a temperature level of about or over 250° F., while low grade heat is defined as waste heat from a fuel cell power plant that is transferred to a coolant loop with the coolant being heated to a temperature level of about 140° F.
- Within the
cooling portion 13 of the system, there are provided three heat exchangers, 28, 29, and 31 within thecirculation loop 22 and apump 32 for maintaining the flow within theloop 22. Theprimary heat exchanger 28 is a liquid to liquid heat exchanger of the counter-flow type such as a concentric tube heat exchanger. Its function is to transfer some of the heat from the fuel cell stack coolant, so that it is cooled from a relatively high temperature (i.e., 310-335° F.) to a temperature of about 250° F., which coolant is then circulated back into thefuel cell stack 14. - Within the
circulation loop 22, a liquid coolant flowing through theprimary heat exchanger 28 picks up heat and is heated to a temperature from around 160° F. to around 190°. Asecondary heat exchanger 29 is provided to reduce the temperature thereof by a heat exchange relationship with anauxiliary apparatus 30 as will be described. - As the liquid coolant in the
circulation loop 22 passes through thesecondary heat exchanger 29, the temperature is reduced from around 190° F. to around 150° F., after which it passes through theheat exchanger 31, which is an ambient heat rejection unit in the form of a liquid to air heat exchanger. As the coolant passes through this heat exchanger, its temperature is reduced from around 180° F. to around 100° F., with the rejected heat passing to the atmosphere. - In the event that an
auxiliary apparatus 30 is not in operation, then it is necessary to shed as much of the heat as possible by way of theheat exchanger 31. Abypass line 33 is therefore provided to pass the coolant directly from thepump 32 to the ambientheat rejection unit 31. - Considering now the
auxiliary apparatus 30, one of the uses that has been made of the heat from thesecondary heat exchanger 29 is that of driving anadsorption chiller 34 as shown inFIG. 1 or a similar singleeffect absorption chiller 36 as shown inFIG. 2 . In the case of theadsorption chiller 34, the boiler orgenerator 37 is heated by the liquid insecondary loop 38 of theexchanger 29, with the temperature of the input flow of around 150° F. being reduced to around 140° F. at the outlet from thegenerator 37. The water to be chilled passes into theadsorption chiller 34 by way of aline 39 and out by way ofline 41. On the condenser side of thechiller 34, acooling tower 42 is provided to cool the liquid flowing in theinlet line 43 from around 90° F. to around 85° F. as it flows in theoutlet line 44. - In respect to the boiler or
generator 46 of the single effect absorption chiller shown inFIG. 2 , the temperatures of the various liquids passing into and out of thechiller 46 are substantially the same as those for the adsorption chiller as shown inFIG. 1 . - It has been recognized by the applicant that neither of the adsorption chiller of
FIG. 1 nor the singleeffect absorption chiller 36 ofFIG. 2 operate very efficiently. It has been found in each case, that a single chiller plant will provide around twenty refrigeration tons of cooling capacity with a COP (coefficient of performance) of about 0.6 where the COP is the ratio of chilling delivered by the chiller to the heat input to the chiller, all in common thermal units. - Referring now to
FIG. 3 , it will be seen that the power plant apparatus has been modified from its standard configuration by removing thesecondary heat exchanger 29. Further, rather than the coolant from thefuel cell stack 14 first transferring its heat to the coolant in thecirculation loop 22 by way of theprimary heat exchanger 28 and then having the coolant in thecirculation loop 22 being applied indirectly to theauxiliary apparatus 30 by way of thesecondary heat exchanger 29, the high temperature (i.e. 310° F.-335° F.) coolant from the fuel cell stack is applied directly to anauxiliary apparatus 45 by way ofline 46 as shown inFIG. 3 . With this high temperature liquid, it is possible to use a different type ofauxiliary apparatus 45 and one which is more efficient than the prior artauxiliary apparatus 30 as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 . Here, a doubleeffect absorption chiller 47 with ahigh stage generator 48 is installed, with the high temperature liquid inline 46 providing the heat for thehigh stage generator 48. For such an arrangement, the applicant has found that a substantial improvement in cooling capacity can be obtained. For example, a single system has been found to provide 27-38 refrigeration tons as compared with twenty refrigerant tons of the prior art systems. Further, a COP greater than 1.0 has been obtained with such a system as compared with a COP of 0.6 for the prior art systems. - After the high temperature fluid has passed through the
high stage generator 48 and had its temperature reduced to around 250° F., rather than being returned to thecirculation loop 22 as in the prior art, it is caused to flow byline 49 directly to theclosed loop 27, at a point downstream of theprimary heat exchanger 28, as shown inFIG. 3 . That fluid is combined with the other fluids in theclosed loop 27 is now at a temperature of around 250° F. and is returned to thefuel cell stack 14 for the cooling thereof. - With the removal of the
heat exchanger 29, the coolant liquid flowing from theheat exchanger 28 is now caused to flow directly to theheat exchanger 31 and then alongline 35 to theplant exhaust stack 19 as shown. - The
FIG. 4 embodiment is substantially the same as that ofFIG. 3 except that the doubleeffect absorption chiller 47 is replaced with a singleeffect absorption chiller 34 having agenerator 37. Although this is the same absorption chiller that is used in theFIG. 1 embodiment, it should be recognized that, with the removal of theheat exchanger 29 and the application of the high grade heat liquid directly to thegenerator 37, greater efficiencies can be achieved to increase the capacity to 25 refrigeration tons with a COP of over 0.7. Further, the chiller of theFIG. 4 embodiment can be made cheaper than the chiller of theFIG. 2 embodiment because the heat exchanger for thegenerator 37 is less expensive since it is operated by employing higher temperatures and therefore does not have to operate as efficiently as the exchanger in the generator of theFIG. 2 embodiment. - It will be seen from the above discussion that, while the greatest efficiency can be obtained by the use of a double effect absorption chiller as shown in
FIG. 3 , it is still possible to use a single effect absorption chiller with the higher temperature coolant as shown inFIG. 4 . However, there are some single effect absorption chillers that will not be sufficiently robust to allow the flow of high temperature coolant directly to the generator. In those cases, it may be necessary to adapt the apparatus as shown inFIG. 5 . - In the
FIG. 5 embodiment, the low grade heat coolant in thecirculation loop 22, after picking up heat from the highgrade heat loop 27, is made to flow directly into thegenerator 37 from theheat exchanger 28 by way of line 51. The temperature of that coolant is in the range of 190° F.-240° F. After passing through thegenerator 37, the coolant is passed to theheat exchanger 31 by way ofline 52 and then alongline 35 to theheat exchanger 21 as shown. Again, the efficiency is improved over theFIG. 1 embodiment and is substantially equal to that for theFIG. 4 embodiment. That is, it will provide a cooling capacity of around 25 refrigeration tons and a COP of over 0.7. - While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred and modified embodiments as illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that various changes in detail may be effected therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. For example, although the preferred embodiment is described in terms of use with phosphoric acid fuel cells, other types of fuel cells such as solid oxide fuel cells, may also be used. Further, the invention is equally applicable to thermoelectrically activated technologies for the conversion of thermal energy to electricity. Also, even though described in terms of single effect and double effect absorption chillers, the invention would be equally applicable to triple effect absorption chillers.
Claims (17)
1. A combined system of an absorption chiller and a fuel cell power plant of the type having a fuel cell stack and an associated stack coolant loop in which the coolant is heated to a level of high grade heat, comprising:
an absorption chiller having a generator for heating an absorptive solution;
a first conduit for conducting the flow of heated coolant directly from the fuel cell stack to the generator for providing heat thereto and, in the process, being cooled; and
a second conduit for conducting the cooled coolant back to the stack coolant loop.
2. A combined system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the temperature level of said high grade heat is in the range of 310-335° F.
3. A combined system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said absorption chiller is a double effect chiller and the flow of heated coolant is conducted into a high stage generator.
4. A combined system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said absorption chiller is a single effect absorption chiller.
5. A combined system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fuel cell power plant includes another coolant loop with the coolant therein being heated to a temperature level of low grade heat and further wherein heat is transferred from said stack coolant loop to said other coolant loop.
6. A combined system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said fuel cell power plant includes a fuel processing system which generates heat which is transferred to said other coolant loop.
7. A combined system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said fuel cell power plant includes another heat source which transfers heat to said other coolant loop, said other heat source originating at said fuel cell stack.
8. A combined system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said second conduit is fluidly connected to said stack coolant loop at a point downstream of said point wherein said heat is transferred from said stack coolant loop to said other coolant loop.
9. A combined system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fuel cell power plant includes phosphoric acid fuel cells.
10. A method of adapting for use with an absorption chiller, a fuel cell power plant having a fuel cell stack with a first coolant flowing therethrough in a high grade heat loop which passes through a first heat exchanger to transfer heat to a second coolant in a low grade heat loop which, in turn, passes through a second heat exchanger to transfer heat to said second heat exchanger, comprising the steps of:
removing the second heat exchanger;
providing an absorption chiller having a generator;
directly connecting said high grade heat loop to said generator such that the first coolant flows from said high grade heat loop, through said generator and back to said high grade heat loop.
11. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said absorption chiller is a double effect absorption chiller and the generator is a high stage generator.
12. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said absorption chiller is a single effect absorption chiller.
13. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the point where said first coolant flows back to said high grade heat loop is a point downstream from said first heat exchanger.
14. A method for adapting for use with an absorption chiller, a fuel cell power plant having a fuel cell stack with a first coolant flowing therethrough in a high grade heat loop which passes through a first heat exchanger to transfer heat to a second coolant in the low grade heat loop which, in turn, passes through a second heat exchanger to transfer heat to said second heat exchanger, comprising the steps of:
removing the second heat exchanger;
providing an absorption chiller having a generator; and
fluidly connecting said low grade heat loop to said generator such that the second coolant flows from said low grade heat loop, through said generator and back to said low grade heat loop.
15. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said absorption chiller is a double effect absorption chiller and said generator is a high stage generator.
16. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said absorption chiller is a single effect absorption chiller.
17. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said fuel cell stack includes phosphoric acid fuel cells.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/397,950 US8586257B2 (en) | 2006-03-30 | 2012-02-16 | Fuel cell system that provides high grade heat to an absorption chiller |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2006/011359 WO2007114802A1 (en) | 2006-03-30 | 2006-03-30 | Method and apparatus for operating a fuel cell in combination with an absorption chiller |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/397,950 Division US8586257B2 (en) | 2006-03-30 | 2012-02-16 | Fuel cell system that provides high grade heat to an absorption chiller |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20100227239A1 true US20100227239A1 (en) | 2010-09-09 |
Family
ID=38563974
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/279,602 Abandoned US20100227239A1 (en) | 2006-03-30 | 2006-03-30 | Method and apparatus for operating a fuel cell in combination with an absorption chiller |
US13/397,950 Active US8586257B2 (en) | 2006-03-30 | 2012-02-16 | Fuel cell system that provides high grade heat to an absorption chiller |
Family Applications After (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/397,950 Active US8586257B2 (en) | 2006-03-30 | 2012-02-16 | Fuel cell system that provides high grade heat to an absorption chiller |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US20100227239A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2002498A1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN101517795A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2007114802A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100196775A1 (en) * | 2008-06-30 | 2010-08-05 | Chung-Hsin Electric And Machinery Manufacturing Corp. | Heat Recycling System of Fuel Cells |
US9742196B1 (en) | 2016-02-24 | 2017-08-22 | Doosan Fuel Cell America, Inc. | Fuel cell power plant cooling network integrated with a thermal hydraulic engine |
US20210257632A1 (en) * | 2020-02-19 | 2021-08-19 | Hyundai Motor Company | Fuel cell cooling system and control method of the same |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9685665B2 (en) | 2010-08-16 | 2017-06-20 | Doosan Fuel Cell America, Inc. | System and method for thermal priority operation of a fuel cell power plant |
FR2998422B1 (en) | 2012-11-16 | 2017-01-13 | Snecma | ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION WITH COOLED FUEL CELL COMPRISING AN ABSORPTION THERMAL MACHINE |
EP3266059A4 (en) | 2015-12-22 | 2018-10-24 | Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Development LP | Fuel cell to power electronic components |
JP6743175B2 (en) * | 2016-09-02 | 2020-08-19 | アップル インコーポレイテッドApple Inc. | Vehicle heat management system and heat exchanger |
JP7484751B2 (en) * | 2021-01-29 | 2024-05-16 | トヨタ自動車株式会社 | Stationary fuel cell system |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS6041771A (en) * | 1983-08-17 | 1985-03-05 | Hitachi Ltd | Shift converte in fuel cell system |
US5449568A (en) * | 1993-10-28 | 1995-09-12 | The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy | Indirect-fired gas turbine bottomed with fuel cell |
JP2001057222A (en) | 1999-08-18 | 2001-02-27 | Shinko Pantec Co Ltd | Energy storage device and its operation method |
-
2006
- 2006-03-30 WO PCT/US2006/011359 patent/WO2007114802A1/en active Application Filing
- 2006-03-30 US US12/279,602 patent/US20100227239A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2006-03-30 CN CNA2006800540893A patent/CN101517795A/en active Pending
- 2006-03-30 EP EP06739872A patent/EP2002498A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2012
- 2012-02-16 US US13/397,950 patent/US8586257B2/en active Active
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100196775A1 (en) * | 2008-06-30 | 2010-08-05 | Chung-Hsin Electric And Machinery Manufacturing Corp. | Heat Recycling System of Fuel Cells |
US9742196B1 (en) | 2016-02-24 | 2017-08-22 | Doosan Fuel Cell America, Inc. | Fuel cell power plant cooling network integrated with a thermal hydraulic engine |
WO2017147032A1 (en) * | 2016-02-24 | 2017-08-31 | Doosan Fuel Cell America, Inc. | Fuel cell power plant cooling network integrated with a thermal hydraulic engine |
US20210257632A1 (en) * | 2020-02-19 | 2021-08-19 | Hyundai Motor Company | Fuel cell cooling system and control method of the same |
US11616241B2 (en) * | 2020-02-19 | 2023-03-28 | Hyundai Motor Company | Fuel cell cooling system and control method of the same |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN101517795A (en) | 2009-08-26 |
EP2002498A1 (en) | 2008-12-17 |
WO2007114802A1 (en) | 2007-10-11 |
US20120164548A1 (en) | 2012-06-28 |
US8586257B2 (en) | 2013-11-19 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US8586257B2 (en) | Fuel cell system that provides high grade heat to an absorption chiller | |
US8841041B2 (en) | Integration of an organic rankine cycle with a fuel cell | |
KR101022010B1 (en) | Fuel Cell System | |
JP6870621B2 (en) | Fuel cell system | |
JP5775267B2 (en) | Water treatment system | |
TW201607133A (en) | Fuel cell power generating system | |
CN109768302A (en) | A kind of fuel battery test system and working method with waste heat recovery plant | |
WO2012057098A1 (en) | Water treatment system and water treatment method | |
JP2004111397A (en) | Humidification of reactant stream in fuel cell | |
KR102588375B1 (en) | Fuel cell system providing thermal solution | |
JP7249172B2 (en) | A heat supply device that heats a fluid | |
CN112582642A (en) | Heat preservation heating device for hydrogen supply and hydrogen return of fuel cell | |
WO2012153484A1 (en) | Fuel cell system and method for operating same | |
CN218602483U (en) | Fuel cell testing system | |
WO2007031082A1 (en) | Passive coolant recirculation in fuel cells | |
US20120122002A1 (en) | Phosphoric acid fuel cell with integrated absorption cycle refrigeration system | |
GB2458112A (en) | Heat and Process Water Recovery System | |
JP5277573B2 (en) | Fuel cell power generator | |
US20100285381A1 (en) | Method and apparatus for operating a fuel cell in combination with an orc system | |
KR20080104150A (en) | Method and apparatus for operating a fuel cell in combination with an absorption chiller | |
JP3743254B2 (en) | Fuel cell power generator | |
WO2009157149A1 (en) | Fuel cell system | |
CN219575682U (en) | Fuel cell cogeneration system | |
JP2014123523A (en) | Fuel cell system | |
CN116072920B (en) | Methanol recombination hydrogen production fuel cell power generation waste heat utilization system |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: UTC POWER CORPORATION, CONNECTICUT Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:NITTA, BHIMASHANKAR V.;CHAKULSKI, BRIAN;OLSOMMER, BENOIT C.;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20060510 TO 20060519;REEL/FRAME:021395/0754 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |