Installation Plan of a Fuel Cell Microgrid System Optimized by Maximizing Power Generation Efficiency

Abstract

If energy-supplying microgrids can be arranged to operate with maximal efficiency, this will have a significant influence on the generation efficiency of the grid and will reduce greenhouse gas production. A means of optimizing the microgrid needs to be developed. Moreover, microgrids that use proton exchange membrane-type fuel cells (PEM-FCs) may significantly reduce the environmental impact when compared with traditional power plants. The amount of power supplied to the grid divided by the heating value of the fuel is defined as the system generation efficiency. The authors find that when a set of PEM-FCs and a natural gas reformer are connected to the microgrid in an urban area, the annual generation efficiency of the system slightly exceeds 20%. When a PEM-FC follows the electricity demand pattern of a house, it operates at a partial load most of the time, resulting in a low efficiency of the microgrid. A method of improving the generation efficiency of a fuel cell microgrid is proposed, where a supply system of power and heat with a high energy efficiency are constructed. In this paper, a method of installing two or more microgrids is proposed (known as the partition cooperation system). The grids can be connected in an urban area to maximize generation efficiency. Numerical analysis shows that the system proposed in this paper (which has an annual generation efficiency of 24.6–27.6%) has a higher generation efficiency than conventional PEM-FC systems (central generating systems have annual generation efficiencies of 20.6–24.8%).