Cogeneration System with Fuel Cell for the Energy Supply of Building

Abstract

This paper proposes a new solution for the energy supply of buildings using electrochemical power sources. The paper shows experimental results in using PEM fuel cell for electricity supply of a gas condensing device. The paper also presents all the components and monitoring measurements of the electrical and thermal values for fuel cell. The experimental testing of the influence of power quality produced by the fuel cell and inverter in boiler operation, leads to use of inverters with sine wave profile on the electricity supply of building. Cheap inverters with rectangular wave or rectangular wave modified by the harmonics content produced, leads to blocking the microprocessor, removing the boiler operation. The experimental system has 0.72 kilowatt electrical power of the fuel cell, while the total thermal output power of the condensing heating device 25 kilowatts . The experimental power quality results obtained with this supply system are presented in the end of the paper.