Long-term performance analysis of an HT-PEM fuel cell based micro-CHP system: Operational strategies

In the present study, long term performance of an HT-PEM fuel cell based micro CHP system, considering the degradation within the HT-PEM fuel cell stack and the steam methane reformer has been investigated. The variations in the generated electrical and thermal power and the corresponding efficiencies, in the first 15,000h of operation of the plant, have been studied. Two strategies have been proposed and applied in order to remedy the excursion of thermal and electrical generation of the plant from the steady state production. In the partialization strategy, by means of reducing the fuel fed to the system, the thermal generation of the plant is kept in a specified range. On the other hand, in the recovery strategy, the supplied fuel is gradually increased to suppress the progressive reduction in the power production.