Fuel cell heating

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A fuel cell heater , also known for short as a fuel cell heater or “ electricity generating heater ”, is used to heat buildings , e.g. B. of residential buildings , and at the same time to power the building and the associated network. It uses a fuel cell to convert the chemical energy of fuels into heat and electrical energy . Fuel cell heating systems are significantly more expensive to purchase than conventional systems. However, their installation is state subsidized in Germany and Japan and promoted in the EU. The operating costs are comparatively low due to the good energy efficiency and the possible income from feeding into the grid . The overall efficiency (electricity and heat) when using the energy of the fuels is 85 to 95% and is therefore relatively high. Fuel cell heating systems are mainly used in Japan: Due to the longstanding subsidies, around 305,000 such systems were installed there by April 2019. Measured by the number of systems used, fuel cell heating has therefore been the most important application of fuel cells for several years.

Advantages and disadvantages

With conventional combined heat and power , the controlled combustion of fuels initially generates heat. This thermal energy is then converted into mechanical and finally electrical energy, and the residual heat is also used. A fuel cell receives electrical energy from the energy of the supplied gases without the detour via thermal and mechanical energy and can therefore achieve high levels of efficiency. With fuel cell heating systems, the efficiency based on the electrical energy received is 60%. By using the thermal energy, values ​​of over 95% can be achieved for the overall efficiency.

Like other fuel cell applications, fuel cell heating systems are quiet and reliable (99% operational readiness, no mechanical parts susceptible to wear). They are considered “clean” because they not only emit less carbon dioxide CO 2 than conventional heating systems, but also do not emit any particles (fine dust), carbon monoxide or sulfur dioxide, as is the case with e.g. B. is the case with conventional oil or wood heating. The main disadvantage of the systems is the high purchase price.

Gases and gas treatment, functions

The entire system is mostly fed with natural gas . Also, the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, of Engl. Liquefied Petroleum Gas ) is possible with a suitable design. Natural gas or other hydrocarbons are converted within the system by means of steam reforming in such a way that hydrogen is obtained for the operation of the fuel cell. Fuel gases such as natural gas must be desulfurized before use; this is now maintenance-free. Fuel cell heaters have z. B. an integrated natural gas boiler, which covers an increased heat requirement (especially in winter) through conventional combustion.

Funding in Germany

In Germany, fuel cell systems are subsidized by KfW with up to 28,200 euros as part of the “Energy Efficiency Incentive Program” .

Historical

Research into home supply using fuel cells began in Japan, Germany and the UK in the 1990s with strong government support.

prehistory

The first practical application of fuel cells was in space travel in the 1960s and 1970s. Because of the limited duration of the missions (in the Gemini program, for example, only a few hours or days, in the Apollo program less than two weeks) , the first devices only ran for a few hours . Only for the space shuttle (first flight in 1981) did the fuel cell power supplies not only have to be powerful, but also very durable and were developed, tested and put into operation accordingly. Only then did fuel cells become interesting for commercial and non-military applications.

Development in Japan

In 1987, a joint venture between several companies ( Osaka Gas , Tokyo Gas and the American Westinghouse Electric Company ) tested a 3 kW SOFC module. In 1992, a 25 kW system with heat coupling was put into operation, which, with an aging-related degradation of 0.1% per 1000 operating hours, showed a relatively stable operating behavior for the conditions at the time. In the period from 1992 to around 2000, basic research on PEM fuel cells created a basis for the following development. From 2001 to 2004, research and development of cell stacks and systems was also advanced with a view to reducing costs and durability. In the years from 2005 to 2008 demonstration projects were carried out in which various fuels and load profiles were tested in the Japanese market. The systems were commercially sold from 2009. Also in 2009, the Japanese Prime Minister announced that it would aim to reduce CO 2 emissions by 25% by 2020 compared to 1990 levels.

After the Tōhoku earthquake on March 11, 2011, the Fukushima nuclear disaster occurred. Thereupon the other nuclear power plants in Japan were checked for their safety and shut down. In this situation there was also a shortage in the supply of electrical energy. That is why the efficient use of primary energy in fuel cells was particularly welcome, and the buildings equipped with fuel cell heating mitigated the consequences of power outages and power cuts. By September 2015, 120,000 fuel cell heating systems had been installed in Japan through the ENE Farm program. The cost of such systems fell significantly between 2011 and 2016 (from 2.44 to 1.35 million yen).

Development and sales in Europe and the USA

Vitovalor 300-P heating system from Viessmann with Panasonic fuel cell for combined electricity and heat generation

In 1998, the German company Vaillant presented fuel cells for house heating, which were developed in a joint project with the US company Plug Power. In 2002 they installed a system that delivered 4 kW of electricity and 9 kW of heat; Plug Power supplied the fuel cell module, Vaillant integrated it into the overall system. To further improve their HT-PEM systems, they received a joint grant in 2006 from the European Commission and the US Department of Energy, which contributed $ 3.6 million.

The first commercial fuel cell heater for the German market was offered by Viessmann, the PEMFC cell of which was supplied by the Japanese manufacturer Panasonic. The device uses natural gas, which is desulphurized and reformed in the device.

In 2014/2015 a number of manufacturers supplied fuel cell heating systems, including Baxi Innotech (PEMFC), Buderus (SOFC), Elcore (PEMFC), Junkers (SOFC), SOLIDpower (SOFC), Vaillant (SOFC) and Viessmann (PEMFC). As part of the "ene.field" project supported by the European Commission, 1046 fuel cell heating systems were installed between 2011 and 2017. The follow-up project "PACE" wants to put 2800 such systems into operation in 10 European countries.

Since August 1, 2016, stationary fuel cell heating systems in Germany have been funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy BMWi, with funding being applied for from KfW . As a result, more than 2500 systems were funded with around 37 million euros in Germany by July 2018. By January 2019, the number of approved KfW applications increased to a total of almost 5,700 and by September 2019 to 8,900.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g Lukas Weber: Power comes from the cellar. In: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung> Technology & Motor> Technology> Efficient, clean, expensive: fuel cell heating. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung FAZ.NET, November 12, 2014, accessed on April 27, 2019 .
  2. ↑ FuelCellsWorks: FCW Exclusive: Tokyo Fuel Cell Expo 2019 - 300,000 Ene-Farms. In: FuelCellsWorks> News. FuelCellsWorks, April 18, 2019, accessed April 27, 2019 .
  3. ↑ a b Bart Biebuyck, Mirela Atanasiu: The benefits of Fuel Cell micro-Cogeneration and its role in contributing to the EU's climate and energy targets. Retrieved April 27, 2019 .
  4. ↑ a b Jeremy Williams: Why have I never heard of the Ene-Farm? In: Energy. Make Wealth History, August 11, 2017, accessed April 27, 2019 .
  5. ↑ a b Eva Ravn Nielsen, Carsten Brorson Prague: Learning points from demonstration of 1000 fuel cell based micro-CHP units. In: ene.field Reports. ene.field, COGEN Europe, February 12, 2018, accessed on April 27, 2019 : "significantly more expensive than traditional heating technologies [...] a total number of 1046 units"
  6. ↑ Fuel cell micro-cogeneration. In: www.pace-energy.eu. PACE, c / o COGEN Europe, 2019, accessed April 28, 2019 .
  7. ↑ This is how a fuel cell heater works. In: Heating> Fuel Cell. energie-experten.org Robert Doelling, December 19, 2018, accessed on April 27, 2019 .
  8. ↑ Energy-efficient building and renovation - fuel cell subsidy. In: Funding Products. KfW, accessed on April 27, 2019 .
  9. ^ History. In: Fuel Cell Today> History. Fuel Cell Today Limited (FCT), Johnson Matthey plc, accessed April 27, 2019 .
  10. ↑ History of the development of the SOFC system. In: Technology> By technology classification> Co-generation system for residential use> Osaka Gas' residential solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system. Osaka Gas Co., accessed April 28, 2019 .
  11. ↑ a b c Michio Hashimoto: Japan's Hydrogen Policy and Fuel Cells Development in NEDO. In: Introduction to Fuel Cells, Outreach Event> Japan Highlights, NEDO. EE Energy Engineers GmbH, April 23, 2015, accessed on April 27, 2019 .
  12. ^ Justin McCurry: Japan's new prime minister promises ambitious greenhouse gas cuts. In: The Guardian> News> Environment> Climate Change. The Guardian, Guardian News & Media Limited, September 7, 2009, accessed April 27, 2019 .
  13. ↑ Japan's post-Fukushima energy descent. In: Energy. Make Wealth History, April 19, 2012, accessed April 27, 2019 .
  14. ↑ Hydrogenicity: ENE-FARM installed 120,000 residential fuel cell units. Hydrogeit Verlag, Sven Geitmann, September 21, 2015, accessed on April 27, 2019 .
  15. ↑ Sales price of ENE-FARM systems for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) in Japan in fiscal years 2011 to 2016 (in million Japanese yen). In: Statista> Energy & Environmental Services> Energy & Environmental Technology. Statista, accessed April 27, 2019 .
  16. ↑ Peter Kurzweil: fuel cell technology . Basics, components, systems, applications. 2nd Edition. Springer Vieweg, Wiesbaden 2013, ISBN 978-3-658-00084-4 , p. 120 , doi : 10.1007 / 978-3-658-00085-1 ( springer.com ).
  17. ↑ Plug Power Announces Europe PEM Fuel Cell Installation. In: Batteries and Portable Power. PowerPulse, Opportunity Media Inc., January 29, 2002, accessed April 28, 2019 .
  18. ↑ Panasonic and Viessmann to Sell Europe's First Fuel Cell Cogeneration System for Homes. In: Panasonic Newsroom TOP> Press Release Headquarters News. Panasonic Corporation, Viessman Group, September 10, 2013, accessed April 27, 2019 .
  19. ↑ Pathway to a Competitive European Fuel Cell micro-Cogeneration Market. In: www.pace-energy.eu. PACE, c / o COGEN Europe, 2019, accessed April 27, 2019 .
  20. ↑ Supplementary information on the fuel cell heating funding program. Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, accessed on April 27, 2019 .
  21. ^ Matthias Salm: Climate-friendly heating with fuel cells - energy source from US space travel. In: KfW Stories> Environment> Energy efficiency> A real powerhouse. KfW, June 10, 2018, accessed on January 28, 2020 .
  22. ↑ Christina Heß: Fuel cell: "The funding program is a complete success". In: Zukunft ERDGAS e. V.> Press archive> 2019. Future ERDGAS e. V .; Fuel cell initiative, accessed on January 28, 2020 .
  23. ↑ Fuel cells are trendy. In: ZfK - newspaper for local economy> Energy> Heat> Article. VKU Verlag GmbH, February 28, 2019, accessed on April 22, 2019 .
  24. ↑ Christina Heß: Fuel cell heating: key technology for the heating transition on the road to success. In: BDH-Köln> Press> Press releases> October 29, 2019. Federal Association of the German Heating Industry V. BDH; Fuel Cell Initiative, October 29, 2019, accessed on January 28, 2020 .