Performance assessment of a 5 kW SOFC cogeneration fuel cell

A 5 kW SOFC (Solid Oxyde Fuel Cell) performance will be detailed. This kind of cogeneration, a typical one for residential application, will be able to replace actual boiler in most of applications. The combination of high temperature hot water output combined with grid-tie electricity delivery will progressively replace actual systems. This will help to significantly reduce GHG (green house gas) emission to about 20% , even compared to actual emissions, based on high performance boiler and electricity produced by high efficiency combined cycle. The particular benefit of SOFC compared to other technologies of fuel cell is the high temperature from one side (giving access to appropriate hot water for heating purposes) and the very exciting high electricity efficiency which is over 40%, together with a global efficiency measured over 80%. This paper is analysing an existing 5 kW unit SOFC which has shown such high level efficiencies