- Author
- Davis, M. W. | Fanney, A. H. | LaBarre, M. J. | Henerson, K. R. | Dougherty, B. P.
- Title
- Parameters Affecting the Performance of a Residential-Scale Stationary Fuel Cell System.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Journal
- ASME Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology, Vol. 4, No. 2, 109-115, May 2007
- Keywords
- fuel cells | residential buildings | transportation | test facilities | thermal load | metodology | temperaure | water | heating | degradation
- Identifiers
- electrical efficiency; control parameter rangs; measured uncerainties; schematic of NIST residential fuel cell test facility; grid-interconnected electrical efficiency four-test bracket; grid-independent electrical efficiency four-test bracket; steady-state thermal load; electrical load fraction; electrical efficiency and relative performance index for each steady-state thermal load bracket; ambient condition investigation; thermal load extraction investigation; electrical and thermal performance varying ambient environmental conditions; electrical performance with and without a thermal load; quasi-steady fluid inlet temperature; electrical performance during shifts in electrical load fraction; residential space and domestic hot water heating loads; real-world thermal load test efficiencies (average of three 24 h tests)
- Abstract
- Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have measured the performance of a residential fuel cell system when subjected to various environmental and load conditions. The system, which uses natural gas as its source fuel, is capable of generating electrical power at three nominal power levels (2.5, 4.0, and 5.0 kW) while providing thermal energy for user-supplied loads. Testing was conducted to determine the influence of ambient temperature, relative humidity, electrical load, and thermal load on system performance. Steady-state and transient tests were conducted. The steady-state tests were performed in accordance with the American Society of Mechanical Engineering Fuel Cell Power Systems Performance Test Code (PTC-50) for fuel cell power systems. The results of the investigation are being used to develop a proposed rating procedure for residential fuel cell units.