Objective
The aim is to show that the integration of the PEM fuel cell into district heating systems can be an ideal supplement or alternative to the established technology used in cogeneration plants. This can only be done by setting up a plant with an output comparable to what is standard in cogeneration plants. A plant of this kind has not been installed to date.
The general benefits of fuel cell technology - high level of efficiency, virtually no moving parts, low noise emission levels, very low waste gas emission levels, minimum maintenance - are enhanced by the use of the PEM cell. The relatively low operating temperature of around 80°C permits the use of low-price materials and ensures a fast start-up. Moreover, the temperatures of central heating systems. The waste heat of the cell can, therefore, be used without the need for any expensive hydraulic circuits or storage facilities. This makes the cell suitable for use in small-scale district heating systems.
A considerable market potential is forecast for the PEM cell in the medium term since it is well suited for series manufacture. The aim of the demonstration project is to fulfil the requirements for series manufacture. This will make it possible in the medium term to reduce the currently high specific costs of around 13000 ECU / KW to less than 1500 ECU / KW
A Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC), also know as a Solid Polymer Fuel Cell (SPFC), with an output of 250 kWel / 237 kWth is to be installed in the Berlin district of Treptow. The fuel cell is to be integrated into an existing district heating system run by Bewag which currently has an installed thermal output of 43.4 MW. The temperatures in the heating system's return permit easy assimilation of the available heat.
The fuel cell is to be operated using natural gas which is converted into hydrogen and carbon dioxide by the addition of oxygen in a reforming process. In addition the operation with gas-storaged hydrogen is planned.
The aim is to permit the both heat and power orientated generation. Full-load operation for the generation of heat can be maintained throughout the year. The auxiliary cooler which is installed makes it possible to generate power irrespective of the level of heat required. The low operating temperature predestinates the PEM fuel cell - as conventional small CHP stations - to cover the basic heat load. For the covering of peak loads during very cold days the existing peak boilers will supply heat.
The location of the plant in Berlin's city centre and its immediate proximity to the BEWAG headquarters are ideal for the presentation of the project to the public. The needs of specialists visiting the plant can be well catered for and there are no obstacles to the free flow of information. Finally the erection of this plant in the eastern part of Berlin as part of the former GDR (5 New Lander) means that this advanced technology will support the industrial development of East Germany.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering thermodynamic engineering
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electrical engineering power engineering electric power generation combined heat and power
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels fossil energy natural gas
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels fuel cells
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Coordinator
12435 Berlin
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.