Heat recovery options for onboard fuel cell systems (original) (raw)

2011, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

Environment Marine a b s t r a c t Solid oxide fuel cell fuelled by methanol is an attractive option to limit the environmental impact of the marine sector. In this publication, a study on heat-recovery has been made for a 250 kW SOFC atmospheric system fuelled by methanol, to satisfy the auxiliary demand onboard of a commercial vessel. Feasible heat-recovery systems were investigated, taking into account efficiency, costs, and space requirements. The heat-recovery possibilities taken into account are electricity production using an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), steam/hot water production, air-conditioning obtained using an Absorption Chiller, and demineralised water recovery. The software WTEMP, developed by the TPG (Thermochemical Power Group) of the University of Genoa, was used for the analysis; models of bottoming cycle, desalination unit, and absorption chiller were developed for this work.