Journal of Korean Institute of Architectural Sustainable Environment and Building SystemsISSN:1976-6483(Print) 2586-0666(Online)한국건축친환경설비학회

This study analyzed the applicability of fuel cells as new energy sources in the residential sector based on the theoretical equation. Specifically, considering that fuel cells are a type of cogeneration system, the energy saving effects of fuel cells were compared to existing individual heating system. The conclusions obtained from this study are summarized as follows: (1) The most distributed PEMFC for buildings was found to have maximum efficiency at around heat ratio 1.0 and SOFC and PAFC was have maximum energy efficiency between heat ratio 0.1 and 0.5. The primary energy savings of PEMFC 20%, SOFC 30%, and PAFC 23% could be expected if 50% of the power load was fuel cell system. (2) Consumption of electricity and hot water was found to have a large impact on the difference in the number of households, and in the case of heating, it was analyzed that the difference between household members was not significant. It was found that a detailed analysis of household characteristics or types of energy consumption should be reflected in determining fuel cells types. (3) It was analyzed that the application effect of PEMFC in unit A with high thermal potential. But SOFC or PAFC in unit B with a higher power load ratio compared to thermal load would be high. In particular, according to the characteristics of fuel cells, PEMFC with high heat recovery were found to have high energy efficiency in mid-season, winter, and SOFC with high power generation efficiency in summer.