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Notes:
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Distributed generation (DG) of combined cooling, heat, and power (CCHP) has been gaining momentum in recent years as an efficient, secure
alternative for meeting increasing power demands in the world. One of the most critical and emerging markets for DG-CCHP systems is
commercial and institutional buildings. The present study focuses analysis on the main economic, energy-efficiency, and environmental impacts of
the integration of three types of advanced DG technologies (high-temperature fuel cells, micro-turbines, and photovoltaic solar panels) into four
types of representative generic commercial building templates (small office building, medium office building, hospital, and college/school) in
southern California (e.g., mild climate), using eQUEST as energy simulation tool. Detailed load profiles for the four commercial building types
during times of peak electric and peak gas consumption were analyzed and complementary strategies to further increase overall building energy
efficiencies such as energy efficiency measures (e.g., day lighting, exterior shading, improved HVAC performance) and thermally activated
absorption cooling were also investigated. Results show that the high-temperature fuel cell (HTFC) performance is best matched with the hospital
energy loads, resulting in a 98% DG capacity factor, 85% DG heat recovery factor, and $860,000 in energy savings (6 years payback). The
introduction of thermally driven double-effect absorption cooling (AC) in the college building with HTFC reduces significantly the building
electricity-to-thermal load ratio and boosts the heat recovery factor from 37% to 97%.
Marc Medrano thanks the Balsells-Generalitat of Catalonia Fellowship initiative and the UCI Advanced Power and Energy Program (APEP) for support of a rewarding three-year postdoctoral research appointment at the National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC). |
