Analyzing microcogeneration systems based on LT-PEMFC and HT-PEMFC by energy balances

This paper focuses on the performance analysis of microcogeneration systems based on the integration between a reforming unit (RFU), consisting of a natural gas steam reforming, and a power unit, based on the PEM fuel cell technology. The analysis has been carried out considering, as power unit, three different PEM fuel cells: a low temperature PEM fuel cell with Nafion™ membrane (LT-FC) operating at 67°C, a high temperature PEM fuel cell with a membrane based on polybenzimidazole material doped with phosphoric acid (HT-FC1) operating at 160°C, and a high temperature PEM fuel cell that uses aromatic polyether polymers/copolymers bearing pyridine units doped with phosphoric acid as electrolyte (HT-FC2) operating at 180°C.