Energy savings through on-site fuel cells in industrial applications
Abstract
Cogeneration with electric generating equipment located at or near the load rather than centrally sited can provide important means of conserving energy resources. The energy savings which could be achieved in certain industrial applications by use of on-site fuel cell powerplants have been examined. Twelve industrial processes were selected for study. A fuel cell system was specified for each of the twelve selected industrial processes and energy resource consumption was determined in each case. Eleven of the twelve applications used recovered heat as well as the electricity produced by the fuel cell. In six cases, process by-product fuel was used and in four processes direct current electricity was provided. When compared with traditional energy resource consumption in each process, significant potential savings were found in all cases. In five of the processes studied, savings exceeded 20%. Overall, for the twelve processes investigated, extensive use of on-site fuel cell systems could result in resource savings of 190,000 barrels of oil (equivalent) per day.
- Publication:
-
12th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference
- Pub Date:
- 1977
- Bibcode:
- 1977iece.conf..456V
- Keywords:
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- Energy Conservation;
- Energy Technology;
- Fuel Cells;
- Industrial Energy;
- Carbon Monoxide;
- Electric Power Plants;
- Heat Generation;
- Hydrogen Fuels;
- Pilot Plants;
- Energy Production and Conversion