Field test results for a 250-kW-class polymer electrolyte fuel cell co-generation system that includes an absorption refrigerator

This paper describes our field test results for a 250-kW-class polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) co-generation system that includes an absorption refrigerator. The co-generation system was field tested from November 2000 to May 2003 and the PEFC unit was operated for a total of 5026 hours, generating 624 MWh. Electrical efficiency of 34%, thermal efficiency of 42%, and total efficiency of 76% were obtained for the PEFC unit. A test room was air-conditioned at around 20 /spl deg/C by circulating the cold water cooled by the absorption refrigerator using low-temperature-level hot water (below 75 /spl deg/C) warmed by heat from the PEFC unit.