Study on Capacity and Operation Method of PEFC μCGS for Apartment Using Measured Electricity and Hot Water Loads

Abstract

The introduction of PEFC (polymer electrolyte fuel cell) μCGS (micro cogeneration system) into apartment is expected from the viewpoint of the energy saving effect in the home section. To introduce this system, the optimization of the equipment capacity of the fuel cell and the examination of its control method are indispensable. In this paper, therefore, the authors suppose a PEFC μCGS and examine its operation method based on the measured results of the electricity and hot water loads of an apartment in Fukuoka. At first, using the measured load patterns, the authors numerically determine the optimum operation schedule that maximizes the energy saving rate for various values of PEFC capacity and reveal the PEFC capacity suitable for the μCGS in both cases of each house installation and central installation. The relation between the seasonal change and the operation pattern of the PEFC in the case of central installation is also investigated. Next, the authors assume the central installation of the PEFC with the above suitable capacity, and propose a practically applicable prediction control method. The energy saving rate of the proposed control method is only a little lower than that of the optimum operation, indicating that the proposed control method has sufficiently high performance.