Proposed Testing Methodology and Laboratory Facilities for Evaluating Residential Fuel Cell Systems.
Proposed Testing Methodology and Laboratory Facilities
for Evaluating Residential Fuel Cell Systems.
(243 K)
Davis, M. W.
NISTIR 6848; 13 p. January 2002.
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
(NTIS), Technology Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161.
Telephone:
1-800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000;
Fax: 703-605-6900; Rush
Service (Telephone Orders Only) 800-553-6847;
Website:
http://www.ntis.gov
Order number: PB2002-102516
Keywords:
fuel cells; test procedure; rating methodology;
laboratory facilities
Abstract:
Fuel cells are emerging as one of the most promising
technologies for meeting the nation's energy needs. Fuel
cell efficiencies, approaching 60 percent, are nearly
twice as efficient as conventional power plants. Fuel
cells are environmentally clean and emit almost none of
the sulfur and nitrogen released by conventional
generating methods. In addition to electricity
generation, waste heat from residential fuel cells can
be captured to provide space or water heating, further
increasing the overall efficiency. Manufacturers of fuel
cell technologies predict that residential fuel cell
units will be on the market within the next two years.
One manufacturer, Plug Power, is currently beta testing
approximately 40 residential fuel cell units. Currently,
standards for fuel cells are being developed by ASME,
ANSI, NFPA, and other standards organizations. The ANSI
and NFPA standards address the safe operation,
construction, installation, and acceptable performance
of all fuel cell units. The ASME standard seeks to rate
the performance of a wide range of fuel cell types and
sizes. This is done at a single, steady-state point of
operation, which will not accurately reflect the
performance of a fuel cell unit in a residential
setting. The electrical load of a residence is transient
in nature. Additionally, if the fuel cell unit is
providing a portion of the space or water-heating load,
the flow rate and temperature of the water being
supplied to the fuel cell will vary. A method of test
and accompanying rating methodology to accurately
capture the overall performance of residential fuel cell
units will provide prospective owners with the
information needed to make informed selections. The
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
will develop a test method and rating methodology that
will capture the overall performance of a residential
fuel cell system in the same manner that methods of
tests exist for heat pumps, gas furnaces, water heaters,
and other household appliances. The test method will
take into account any inefficiencies associated with the
fuel cell stack and reformer; the conversion efficiency
of the inverter; and any useful water or space heating
contributions. The test method will identify and specify
environmental and electrical load parameters that may
affect performance, as well as the effect of transient
loads on the system performance. Finally, rating
methodologies will be developed that allow the annual
performance of a residential fuel cell unit to be
determined under representative load and climatic
conditions for a geographical location.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899