Thermo‐Economic Modelling and Optimisation of Fuel Cell Systems

This paper describes and illustrates the application of a methodology for thermo‐economic design and optimisation of fuel cell systems. This methodology combines the use of process simulation and process integration techniques to compute thermo‐economic performances of fuel cell systems that will be used in a multi‐objective optimisation framework. The method allows the generation of integrated fuel cell system configurations and their corresponding optimal operating conditions. It should be used as a preliminary design methodology, allowing the identification of promising system configurations, which would be further analysed. The methodology and the thermo‐economic models are described and demonstrated for the design of PEMFC hybrid systems, combining fuel cell and gas turbine technologies.