JPH02230666A - Fuel cell power generating system - Google Patents

Fuel cell power generating system

Info

Publication number
JPH02230666A
JPH02230666A JP1051611A JP5161189A JPH02230666A JP H02230666 A JPH02230666 A JP H02230666A JP 1051611 A JP1051611 A JP 1051611A JP 5161189 A JP5161189 A JP 5161189A JP H02230666 A JPH02230666 A JP H02230666A
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
fuel cell
power
steam
water
switch
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
JP1051611A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
Kazuo Shoji
一夫 庄司
Kazuo Sasaki
和夫 佐々木
Yasumoto Kubota
康幹 久保田
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tohoku Electric Power Co Inc
Fuji Electric Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Tohoku Electric Power Co Inc
Fuji Electric Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tohoku Electric Power Co Inc, Fuji Electric Co Ltd filed Critical Tohoku Electric Power Co Inc
Priority to JP1051611A priority Critical patent/JPH02230666A/en
Publication of JPH02230666A publication Critical patent/JPH02230666A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/06Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
    • H01M8/0606Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants
    • H01M8/0612Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants from carbon-containing material
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50Fuel cells

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the constitution and to save resources by installing electric heaters capable of switching their connection on AC output side and AC line side of a DC/AC converter, and by heating stored water in a steam separator by using the power generated in a fuel cell in its starting as part of supply power to the electric heaters. CONSTITUTION:A DC switch 12 and a load switch 14 are opened, and switches 23A, 23B are closed. An AC power is supplied to electric heaters 21A, 21B from a power line 15, and stored water 8 in a steam separator 3 is heated by a heat circulation line 6. The stored water 8 is circulated to a fuel cell 1 as a heating medium through a cooling water circulation line 4 to preheat the fuel cell to minimum temperature capable of starting, and at the same time, steam reforming of raw fuel is started. When the amount of fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell 1 is increased, the switch 12 is closed and a DC/AC converter 13 is started. The switches 23A, 23B are opened, switches 24, 25A are closed, and power is supplied to the heater 21A through a voltage controller 26. Use of a starting resistor is unnecessary, constitution is simplified, and resources are saved.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】 〔産業上の利用分野〕 この発明は水冷式の燃料電池発電装!、ことにその起動
時における水系の温度および発生電力の制御装置に関す
る。
[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention is a water-cooled fuel cell power generation system! In particular, this invention relates to a control device for controlling the temperature of a water system and the generated power during startup.

〔従来の技術〕[Conventional technology]

第2図は従来装置の水系統および出力電気系統を簡略化
して示すシステム図であり、水冷式冷却器IAを有する
燃料電池1と、水蒸気改質器2Aを含む水蒸気改質器系
2に飽和水蒸気9を供給する水蒸気分離器3とが、水蒸
気分離器3の包蔵水8を冷却水8Aとして燃料電池1の
水冷式冷却器1^に循環する冷却水循環系4によって連
結されており、燃判電池が発電運転中はその発電生成熱
を冷却水8^が奪って燃料電池1をその作動温度(例え
ばりん酸形燃料電池の場合190℃)に保持するととも
に、加熱された冷却水8Aが水蒸気分離器3の包蔵水8
を加温する.加温した包蔵水8によって生成され圧力調
整弁3Bによって圧力調整された所定温度(例えば16
0℃程度)の飽和水蒸気9が水蒸気改質系2に供給され
て吸熱反応である原燃料の水蒸気改質反応に寄与し、燃
料ガス7が燃料電池lに供給されて酸化剤ガスとの電気
化学反応により直接発電が行われ、発生電力は直流開閉
器12.直交変換装置13を介して交流電力に変換され
、負荷開閉器l4を介して例えば交流電力系統15に供
給される.また、水蒸気分離器3の包蔵水8は飽和水蒸
気の気化熱によって冷却されて燃料電池の水冷冷却器I
Aとの間に温度差が生ずるので、冷却水循環系4を循環
する水を冷却媒体として燃料電池1の冷却が行われる。
Figure 2 is a simplified system diagram showing the water system and output electrical system of the conventional device. The water vapor separator 3 that supplies water vapor 9 is connected to the water vapor separator 3 by a cooling water circulation system 4 that circulates the stored water 8 of the water vapor separator 3 as cooling water 8A to the water-cooled cooler 1^ of the fuel cell 1. When the battery is in power generation operation, the cooling water 8A absorbs the generated heat and maintains the fuel cell 1 at its operating temperature (for example, 190°C in the case of a phosphoric acid fuel cell), and the heated cooling water 8A turns into water vapor. Stored water 8 in separator 3
Warm up. A predetermined temperature (for example, 16
Saturated steam 9 at a temperature of about 0℃) is supplied to the steam reforming system 2 and contributes to the endothermic steam reforming reaction of the raw fuel, and the fuel gas 7 is supplied to the fuel cell 1 to generate electricity with the oxidizing gas. Direct power generation occurs through a chemical reaction, and the generated power is transferred to a DC switch 12. It is converted into AC power via the orthogonal conversion device 13, and is supplied to, for example, the AC power system 15 via the load switch l4. Furthermore, the stored water 8 of the water vapor separator 3 is cooled by the heat of vaporization of the saturated water vapor, and is transferred to the water-cooled cooler I of the fuel cell.
Since there is a temperature difference between the fuel cell 1 and the fuel cell 1, the fuel cell 1 is cooled using water circulating in the cooling water circulation system 4 as a cooling medium.

一方、燃料電池の発電運転を開始するためには、燃料電
池1をその起動に好適な温度(例えば130℃)に予熱
すると同時に、水蒸気改質器系2に所定温度(例えば1
60℃)に加熱された飽和水蒸気9を供給して燃料ガス
7を燃料電池1に供給する必要がある.そこで、水蒸気
分離器3に、その包蔵水8を循環加熱する加熱器5を有
する加熱循環系6を設け、加熱された包蔵水により飽和
水蒸気を発生させると同時に、包蔵水を加熱媒体として
冷却水循環系4を介して燃料電池1を予熱するとともに
、起動操作中に燃料電池1が発生する電力を、その直流
出力側に開閉817を介して接続された可変形の起動抵
抗器16によって消費して発電生成熱を発生させる。発
生電力が例えば定格出力の173程度を超えた時点で直
流開閉器12を閉じて直交変換装買13を起動するとと
もに負荷開閉器14を閉じ、起動抵抗器16に流れる電
流を徐々に絞って交流出力を増加させ、発生電力が所望
のレベルに到達した時点で起動抵抗器16を切離すこと
により起動操作を終了するよう構成したものが知られて
いる.なお、19は運転停止時に用いられる小容量の放
電抵抗器である. 〔発明が解決しようとする課題〕 従来装置においては、その起動時に燃料電池の発生電力
が所望のレベルに到達するまでの間、起動抵抗器に発生
電力を消費させるために、この間発生ずる電力とこれを
発生するための原燃料が無駄に消費されるばかりか、電
力を無駄に消費させるための起動抵抗器を設備しなけれ
ばならないという問題がある. この発明の目的は、起動抵抗器を必要とせず、かつ起動
時の発生電力を有効に利用して装置の起動を効率化する
ことにある。
On the other hand, in order to start power generation operation of the fuel cell, the fuel cell 1 is preheated to a temperature suitable for startup (for example, 130°C), and at the same time, the steam reformer system 2 is heated to a predetermined temperature (for example, 130°C).
It is necessary to supply fuel gas 7 to fuel cell 1 by supplying saturated steam 9 heated to 60°C). Therefore, a heating circulation system 6 having a heater 5 that circulates and heats the stored water 8 is installed in the steam separator 3, and the heated stored water generates saturated steam, and at the same time, cooling water is circulated using the stored water as a heating medium. The fuel cell 1 is preheated via the system 4, and the power generated by the fuel cell 1 during the startup operation is consumed by the variable startup resistor 16 connected to the DC output side of the fuel cell 1 through the switch 817. Generates heat for power generation. When the generated power exceeds the rated output of about 173, for example, the DC switch 12 is closed to start the orthogonal converter 13, the load switch 14 is closed, and the current flowing through the starting resistor 16 is gradually throttled back to AC. A device is known in which the output is increased and the starting operation is terminated by disconnecting the starting resistor 16 when the generated power reaches a desired level. In addition, 19 is a small capacity discharge resistor used when the operation is stopped. [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional device, in order to cause the starting resistor to consume the generated power until the generated power of the fuel cell reaches the desired level at the time of startup, the power generated during this time and the There is a problem in that not only the raw fuel for generating this is wasted, but also a starting resistor must be installed to waste electricity. An object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of starting a device by eliminating the need for a starting resistor and effectively utilizing the power generated during starting.

〔課題を解決するための手段〕[Means to solve the problem]

上記課題を解決するために、この発明によれば、出力側
が直交変換装置を介して交流系統に接続された水冷式燃
料電池と、原燃料の水蒸気改質系に飽和水蒸気を供給す
る水蒸気分離器とが冷却水循環系により相互に連結され
、発電運転中は燃料電池の発生熱を熱源として前記水蒸
気分離器が飽和水蒸気を発生するものにおいて、前記直
交変損装置の出力交流側および交流系統側に切換可能に
接続され,前記燃料電池の起動時における発生電力を供
給源の一部として発熱する電気ヒータを備え、この電気
ヒータを熱源として前記水蒸気分離器の包蔵水を起動に
好通な所定温度に加熱するものとする. 〔作用〕 上記手段において、直交変換装置の交流出力側および交
流系統側に切換接続可能に電気ヒータを設け、起動時に
燃料電池が発生する電力を電気ヒータへの供給電力の一
部として水蒸気分離器の包蔵水を加熱するようにしたこ
とにより、起動抵抗器が不要となり、その分装置の構成
を簡素化できるとともに、起動時の発生電力を蒸気の生
成および燃料電池の予熱に有効利用でき、したがって装
置の起動を省資源化できる. 〔実施例〕 以下この発明を実施例に基づいて説明する。
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a water-cooled fuel cell whose output side is connected to an AC system via an orthogonal conversion device, and a steam separator that supplies saturated steam to a raw fuel steam reforming system. are interconnected by a cooling water circulation system, and the steam separator generates saturated steam using the heat generated by the fuel cell as a heat source during power generation operation, and the output AC side and the AC system side of the orthogonal transformation device An electric heater is switchably connected and generates heat using the electric power generated during startup of the fuel cell as part of the supply source, and uses the electric heater as a heat source to bring the contained water of the steam separator to a predetermined temperature favorable for startup. It shall be heated to . [Operation] In the above means, an electric heater is provided in a switchable manner on the AC output side and the AC system side of the orthogonal conversion device, and the water vapor separator uses the electric power generated by the fuel cell at startup as part of the electric power supplied to the electric heater. By heating the stored water, a starting resistor is no longer required, which simplifies the configuration of the device, and the power generated during startup can be effectively used for steam generation and fuel cell preheating. Resources can be saved when starting the device. [Examples] The present invention will be described below based on Examples.

第1図はこの発明の実施例装宜の主要部分を簡略化して
示すシステム図であり、従来装置と同じ部分には同一参
照符号を用いることにより詳細な説明を省略する。図に
おいて、21A,21Bは複数の電気ヒータであり、水
蒸気分離器3の加熱I環系6に従来装1の加熱器5の代
わりに設けられる。
FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing the main parts of an embodiment of the present invention in a simplified manner, and detailed explanations are omitted by using the same reference numerals for the same parts as in the conventional apparatus. In the figure, 21A and 21B are a plurality of electric heaters, which are provided in the heating I ring system 6 of the steam separator 3 in place of the heater 5 of the conventional device 1.

電気ヒータ21A.21Bは!磁開閉器23A.23B
を介して負荷開閉器l4の電力系統15側に接続され、
電力系統15から電力を受けられるとともに、直交変換
装y113の出力側から電磁開閉器24,交流電圧調整
器26および電磁開閉器2 5 A , 2.5 Bを
介して起動時の発生電力を供給できるよう構成される.
なお、加熱Wi環系6を設けずに電気ヒータを包蔵水8
中に設けてもよい. このように構成された実施例装置の起動時における電気
ヒータのオン・オフ制御は、まず直流開閉器12および
負荷開閉器】4を開いた状態でスイッチ23A,23B
を閉じ、電力系統l5側から電気ヒータ21^, 21
Bに交流電力を供給して加熱循環系6によって水蒸気分
離器3の包蔵水Bを加熱する.また、冷却水循環系4に
よって包蔵水8を加熱媒体として燃料電池1に循環して
燃料電池を起動可能な最低温度に予熱し、かつ発生した
飽和水蒸気9を水蒸気改質系2に送って原燃料の水蒸気
改質を開始する. 燃料電池1に供給される燃料ガス量が増加した時点で直
流開閉器12を閉じて直交変換装置13を起動するとと
もに、電磁開閉器23A.23Bを開き、代わりに電磁
開閉器24および25Aを閉じ、燃料電池1で発生し、
交流に変換された電力を電圧調整器26で電圧調整しつ
つ電気ヒータ21Aに供給する.この状態で燃料電池1
に発電生成熱が発生するので、この発電生成熱と従来は
無駄に消費されていた発生電力とを有効に利用して電池
の加温と燃料ガスの生成が促進される. 電気ヒータ21Aに供給される電力がその容量を超える
状態に達した時点で電磁開閉器25Bを閉じて電気ヒー
タ21Bに通電し電池の加温と燃料ガスの生成をさらに
促進する.発生電力が燃料電池の定格出力の173程度
に到達すると電気ヒータの助けを借りずに定常運転が可
能になるので、電磁開閉器24を開くとともに加熱循環
系6の循環ポンプを停止し、負荷開閉器l4を閉じるこ
とによって起動操作が完了する. 〔発明の効果〕 この発明は前述のように、直交変換装置の出力交流側お
よび交流系統側に切換可能に接続された電気ヒータを設
け、この電気ヒータを熱源として水蒸気分離器の包蔵水
を起動に好通な温度に加熱するよう構成した.その結果
、従来装置で必要とした起動抵抗器が排除されて装1の
構成が簡素化されるとともに、起動抵抗器によって従来
無駄に消費されていた起動時の発生電力を飽和水蒸気の
生成および燃料電池の加温に有効に利用して装置の起動
を行うことができる.したがって、構成が簡素化され、
かつ省資源化された燃料電池発電装置を経済的に有利に
提供することができる.
Electric heater 21A. 21B is! Magnetic switch 23A. 23B
is connected to the power system 15 side of the load switch l4 via
It can receive power from the power system 15, and also supplies generated power at startup from the output side of the orthogonal converter y113 via the electromagnetic switch 24, AC voltage regulator 26, and electromagnetic switches 25A, 2.5B. It is configured so that it can be done.
In addition, the electric heater can be used without installing the heating Wi ring system 6.
It may be placed inside. The on/off control of the electric heater at the time of startup of the embodiment device configured as described above is performed by first turning on/off the switches 23A and 23B with the DC switch 12 and the load switch 4 open.
Close the electric heater 21^, 21 from the power grid l5 side.
AC power is supplied to B, and the stored water B in the steam separator 3 is heated by the heating circulation system 6. In addition, the cooling water circulation system 4 circulates the contained water 8 as a heating medium to the fuel cell 1 to preheat it to the lowest temperature at which the fuel cell can be started, and sends the generated saturated steam 9 to the steam reforming system 2 to provide raw fuel. Start steam reforming. When the amount of fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell 1 increases, the DC switch 12 is closed to start the orthogonal conversion device 13, and the electromagnetic switch 23A. 23B is opened, and the electromagnetic switches 24 and 25A are closed instead.
The voltage of the converted AC power is adjusted by a voltage regulator 26 and then supplied to the electric heater 21A. In this state, fuel cell 1
Since heat generated by power generation is generated, this heat generated by power generation and the generated electric power, which was wasted in the past, can be effectively used to heat the battery and generate fuel gas. When the electric power supplied to the electric heater 21A exceeds its capacity, the electromagnetic switch 25B is closed and the electric heater 21B is energized to further promote battery heating and fuel gas generation. When the generated power reaches the fuel cell's rated output of about 173, steady operation is possible without the help of the electric heater, so the electromagnetic switch 24 is opened and the circulation pump of the heating circulation system 6 is stopped, and the load is switched on and off. The startup operation is completed by closing the container l4. [Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention includes an electric heater that is switchably connected to the output AC side and the AC system side of the orthogonal conversion device, and uses this electric heater as a heat source to start the stored water of the steam separator. It was designed to heat to a temperature suitable for As a result, the starting resistor required in conventional devices has been eliminated, simplifying the configuration of device 1, and the power generated during starting, which was previously wasted due to the starting resistor, can be used to generate saturated steam and fuel. This can be effectively used to warm the battery and start the device. Therefore, the configuration is simplified and
In addition, it is possible to provide an economically advantageous fuel cell power generation device that saves resources.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Claims (1)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] 1)出力側が直交変換装置を介して交流系統に接続され
た水冷式燃料電池と、原燃料の水蒸気改質系に飽和水蒸
気を供給する水蒸気分離器とが冷却水循環系により相互
に連結され、発電運転中は燃料電池の発生熱を熱源とし
て前記水蒸気分離器が飽和水蒸気を発生するものにおい
て、前記直交変換装置の出力交流側および交流系統側に
切換可能に接続され、前記燃料電池の起動時における発
生電力を供給源の一部として発熱する電気ヒータを備え
、この電気ヒータを熱源として前記水蒸気分離器の包蔵
水を起動に好適な所定温度に加熱することを特徴とする
燃料電池発電装置。
1) A water-cooled fuel cell whose output side is connected to an AC system via an orthogonal conversion device and a steam separator that supplies saturated steam to a raw fuel steam reforming system are interconnected by a cooling water circulation system to generate electricity. During operation, the steam separator generates saturated steam using the heat generated by the fuel cell as a heat source, and is switchably connected to the output AC side and the AC system side of the orthogonal conversion device, and when the fuel cell is started up. A fuel cell power generation device comprising an electric heater that generates heat using generated power as part of a supply source, and using the electric heater as a heat source to heat stored water in the steam separator to a predetermined temperature suitable for startup.
JP1051611A 1989-03-03 1989-03-03 Fuel cell power generating system Pending JPH02230666A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1051611A JPH02230666A (en) 1989-03-03 1989-03-03 Fuel cell power generating system

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1051611A JPH02230666A (en) 1989-03-03 1989-03-03 Fuel cell power generating system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
JPH02230666A true JPH02230666A (en) 1990-09-13

Family

ID=12891702

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP1051611A Pending JPH02230666A (en) 1989-03-03 1989-03-03 Fuel cell power generating system

Country Status (1)

Country Link
JP (1) JPH02230666A (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2000294263A (en) * 1999-04-08 2000-10-20 Toyota Motor Corp Fuel cell system and heating method for fuel cell
WO2006094393A1 (en) * 2005-03-07 2006-09-14 Hyteon Inc. Combined heat and power system
JP2010282831A (en) * 2009-06-04 2010-12-16 Nissan Motor Co Ltd Fuel cell system

Citations (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS60172175A (en) * 1984-02-17 1985-09-05 Hitachi Ltd Load control device of fuel cell system
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