- Author
- Davis, M. W. | Fanney, A. H.
- Title
- Test Facility for Determining the Seasonal Performance of Residential Fuel Cell Systems.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Book or Conf
- Hydrogen and Fuel Cells 2003 Conference and Trade Show. Proceedings. June 9-11, 2003, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 1-17 p., 2003
- Keywords
- fuel cells | hydrogen | test facilities | environmental control systems | thermal energy | steady state | methodology
- Identifiers
- electrical and thermal load types for possible performance tests; residential fuel cell test facility schematic; environmental measurement and control system; fuel energy measurement system; electrical energy system; thermal energy system; residential water heating loop; steady state electrical load; steady state thermal output; transient thermal load; real-world thermal load; transient electrical load
- Abstract
- The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has designed and constructed a test facility for determining the seasonal performance of residential fuel cell systems. A consumer-oriented performance rating to guide consumers in their economic decisions is essential to the widespread commercialization of residential fuel cell systems. NIST's history of developing test procedures and rating methodologies for residential appliances will aid in the development of a similar test procedure and rating methodology for the seasonal performance of residential fuel cells. The test facility, which was created to support the development of the rating methodology, incorporates an environmental chamber capable of maintaining the ambient temperature and relative humidity over a range of -18 deg C to 40 deg C and 20% to 95%, respectively. Various measurement systems within the facility permit the determination of the fuel source's energy content, the electrical power and energy generated by the fuel cell unit, and for units that offer cogeneration capabilities, the thermal output of the fuel cell unit. Both grid connected and grid independent systems can be accommodated within the test facility. NIST's fuel cell test facility incorporates thermal conditioning apparatus that permits tests to be conducted while supplying a fixed flow rate and temperature to the unit or while capturing the thermal energy by means of a domestic hot water preheat tank under simulated load conditions. Tests will be conducted thoroughly to map the performance of residential fuel cell systems over a range of ambient temperatures, relative humidity levels, and load conditions. NIST will then identify the smallest combination of tests that reasonably capture the performance characteristics of the fuel cell. These tests will provide the needed inputs to an algorithm that predicts the seasonal performance and economic savings of the fuel cell system. With this information the consumer can then make a more informed buying decision.