Emerging Technologies: Using Molten-Carbonate Fuel Cells for Distributed Generation
When used in distributed generation (DG) applications, fuel cells have the potential to save energy and reduce emissions, and their inherent fuel-flexibility also could help address energy shortage issues through energy diversity. In addition, fuel cells have the potential to be quieter, more reliable, and have lower maintenance costs than most technologies used for DG.This is the fourth in a series of articles on fuel cells for DG applications. It addresses molten-carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs). Earlier articles addressed PEM fuel cells,3 solid-oxide fuel cells, and phosphoric-acid fuel cells.Citation: ASHRAE Journal, vol. 49, no. 2, February 2007