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State of the Art Review: Fuel Cell Technologies in the Domestic Built Environment

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Progress in Sustainable Energy Technologies Vol II

Abstract

The paper provides a state-of-the-art review of fuel cells operating in the domestic built environment. Fuel cells produce heat when generating electricity, thus they are of particular interest for combined heat and power (CHP) applications. As this paper’s focus is the domestic built environment, only micro-CHP applications are considered.

The review commences with an examination of micro-CHP in the built environment and then appraises domestic fuel cell technology. It concludes with an assessment of the present development of, and future challenges for, domestic fuel cells; specifically the operational advantages they offer compared to conventional micro-CHP technologies. As fuel cells are an emergent technology the paper draws on a breadth of literature, data and experience, mostly from the UK, Japan, USA and Australia.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Sustainable Energy Technology, School of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK

    Theo Elmer & Saffa B. Riffat

Authors
  1. Theo Elmer
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  2. Saffa B. Riffat
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Theo Elmer .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

    Ibrahim Dincer

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize, Turkey

    Adnan Midilli

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering Faculty of Engineering, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize, Turkey

    Haydar Kucuk

Nomenclature

Nomenclature

AC:

Alternating current

AFC:

Alkaline fuel cell

CCGT:

Combined cycle gas turbine

CCHP:

Combined cooling heat and power

CFCL:

Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd.

CHP:

Combined heat and power

CO:

Carbon monoxide

CO2 :

Carbon dioxide

DC:

Direct current

DG:

Decentralised generator

DHW:

Domestic hot water

DMFC:

Direct methanol fuel cell

EU:

European Union

GHG:

Greenhouse gases

H:P:

Heat to power

ICE:

Internal combustion engine

MFH:

Multi-family home

MCFC:

Molten carbonate fuel cell

NRPE:

Non-renewable primary energy

PEMFC:

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell

PAFC:

Phosphoric acid fuel cell

SE:

Stirling engine

SFH:

Single family home

SOFC:

Sold oxide fuel cell

UK:

United Kingdom

USA:

United States of America

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Elmer, T., Riffat, S.B. (2014). State of the Art Review: Fuel Cell Technologies in the Domestic Built Environment. In: Dincer, I., Midilli, A., Kucuk, H. (eds) Progress in Sustainable Energy Technologies Vol II. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07977-6_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07977-6_17

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-07976-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-07977-6

  • eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)

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