Abstract
The trigeneration (or trigen) is a simultaneous generation of electricity, heat and cooling. It is a technology derived from the known combined heat and power generation (CHP). This combination allows to decrease the fuel consumption as compared to separated generation, which stands for an increased energy conversion efficiency. The fuel cells are devices, which generate electricity in electrochemical processes. Currently the experiments with implementing various types of fuel cells continue around the world. The high-temperature fuel cells, like SOFC or MCFC, can be used both for generating electric power, and for trigeneration. Their distinctive feature is the flue gas of relatively high temperature, which allows to recover the heat both for the district heating water and chilled water production. The paper presents structures and key parameters of the fuel cell-based trigeneration systems. The presented solutions involve two types of chillers: absorption chillers (working on ammonia-water mixture) and vapour-compression chillers (with R-22 as the working agent). Of many types of fuel cells three were named as most appropriate for the needs of trigeneration: PAFC (Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell), MCFC (Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell) and SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell)-these generate the flue gas of sufficiently high temperatures, 〜200℃, 〜650℃ and 800...1000℃ respectively. Main parameters of chillers were also presented and their comparative analysis was carried out.
