A typical low-temperature PEM fuel cell is around 55% electrically efficient. 45% ~ 60% of the energy generated in the fuel cell is wasted as heat. A combined power and heat (CPH, also called cogeneration) system of a fuel cell can elevate the overall energy efficiency to 60 % ~90% depending on the type of fuel cell and the heat recovery facility.
Our lab has a 5kW fuel cell and an ORC heat recovery system to build a CPH system. The project goal is to test and evaluate the overall energy efficiency improvement of a commercial PEMFC combined with waste heat recovery rig.
Undergraduate
- Theoretical calculation of the energy distribution (electrical and thermal) of the 5 kW PEMFC.
- Build a simulation of the CPH (5 kW PEMFC + ORC) & evaluate the efficiency of the CPH and improvement compared to the PEMFC
- Assist commissioning the 5 kW PEMFC under the supervision of a research fellow and technician
- (Optional) Characterisation of the 5 kW FC: thermal + electrical measurement
None
No lab has been assigned to this project