Propulsion and Trigeneration by Fuel Cell: an Eco-friendly Camper van

Among the several systems for energy production, fuel cells in a trigenerative arrangement are certainly some of the most attractive. They, in fact, could simultaneously supply both thermal and electrical power and, if connected to a system of absorption, they allow environment conditioning by using their discarded thermal energy. In the present paper, the results of an energetic and environmental analysis of low power fuel cell systems, in terms of some meaningful parameters, such as the global efficiency, the exergetic efficiency and the environmental impact index. In particular, as an application to a real case the feasibility to satisfy the energetic requirements of a camper van, has been considered, not only in terms of energetic satisfaction of the cab but also in terms of propulsion.