Operational analysis of a small-capacity cogeneration system with a gas hydrate battery

In a cold region during winter, energy demand for residential heating is high and energy saving, the discharge of greenhouse gases, and air pollution are all of significant concern. We investigated the fundamental characteristics of an energy storage system with a GHB (gas hydrate battery) in which heat cycle by a unique change in state of gas hydrate operates using the low-temperature ambient air of a cold region. The proposed system with the GHB can respond to a high heat to power ratio caused by a small-scale CGS (cogeneration system) that is powered by a gas engine, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, or a solid oxide fuel cell. In this paper, we explain how the relation between fossil fuel consumption and heat to power ratio of the different types of systems differ. We investigated the proposed system by laboratory experiments and analysis of the characteristics of power load and heat load of such a system in operation in Kitami, a cold district in Japan. If a hydrate formation space of 2 m3 is introduced into the proposed system, 48%–52% (namely, power rate by green energy) of total electric power consumption is supplied by the GHB.

[1]  Omer Ozyurt,et al.  Experimental study of vertical ground-source heat pump performance evaluation for cold climate in Turkey , 2011 .

[2]  Yun Wang,et al.  A review of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells: Technology, applications,and needs on fundamental research , 2011 .

[3]  H. Chandra,et al.  Application of solid oxide fuel cell technology for power generation—A review , 2013 .

[4]  Hongbo Ren,et al.  Economic and environmental evaluation of micro CHP systems with different operating modes for residential buildings in Japan , 2010 .

[5]  Tetsuo Tezuka,et al.  Development of the “Home Energy Conservation Support Program” and its effects on family behavior , 2014 .

[6]  Nicola Zuliani,et al.  Microcogeneration system based on HTPEM fuel cell fueled with natural gas: Performance analysis , 2012 .

[7]  M. Takahata,et al.  Effect of Catalyst of Iron Oxide-Carbon on Methane Hydrate Formation under Weak Stirring Condition , 2006 .

[8]  Y. Yamaguchi,et al.  Prediction of greenhouse gas reduction potential in Japanese residential sector by residential energy end-use model , 2010 .

[9]  Carolyn A. Koh,et al.  Clathrate hydrates of natural gases , 1990 .

[10]  Kazushige Maeda,et al.  A study on energy saving in residential PEFC cogeneration systems , 2010 .

[11]  P. Haberschill,et al.  Characterization of CO2 hydrate formation and dissociation kinetics in a flow loop , 2010 .

[12]  Loren Lutzenhiser,et al.  Japanese residential air-conditioning: natural cooling and intelligent systems☆ , 1992 .

[13]  Toshiyuki Sueyoshi,et al.  Consumer choice on ecologically efficient water heaters: Marketing strategy and policy implications in Japan , 2011 .

[14]  Shigehiko Kaneko,et al.  Development of an engine control system using city gas and biogas fuel mixture , 2013 .

[15]  Hüseyin Benli,et al.  Energetic performance analysis of a ground-source heat pump system with latent heat storage for a greenhouse heating , 2011 .

[16]  Ryohei Yokoyama,et al.  Optimal sizing of residential gas engine cogeneration system for power interchange operation from en , 2011 .

[17]  Guofeng Shen,et al.  Temporal and spatial trends of residential energy consumption and air pollutant emissions in China , 2013 .

[18]  Francesco Melino,et al.  Influence of the thermal energy storage on the profitability of micro-CHP systems for residential building applications , 2012 .

[19]  Jiro Senda,et al.  Fuel consumption analysis of a residential cogeneration system using a solid oxide fuel cell with regulation of heat to power ratio , 2013 .