Modelling and simulation of a residential CCHP system based on PEM fuel cell and adsorption machine

Fuel Cell and Adsorption Machine based Trigeneration Systems are very attractive for residential applications because they allow production of electricity, heat and cold in a decentralized, quiet, efficient and environmentally friendly way. Furthermore they are suitable to be supplied by methane provided by natural gas city-network. Energy and economic performance of this kind of CCHP systems depend on the optimization of several design parameters related with the customer's energy demand, the system lay-out, the sizing of components, the control and management strategy. Through a general scheme in which all possible components are included (MicroFC-CHP system, gas boiler, and adsorption heat pump), a mathematical model and a computer simulation tool have been developed in order to calculate the energy balance of the system for a typical energy demand profile for a residential building. Different cases have been considered varying the power-size of each component and comparing the total efficiency with a traditional system based on boiler and electric air conditioner.