Feasibility of Cogeneration Application of a 4.8-MW Fuel Cell Power Plant at a Santa Clara, California Paper Mill. Final Report

摘要

This study evaluated the feasibility of employing a 4.8-MW fuel cell power plant in a cogeneration mode. The proposed site for the power plant is at a Santa Clara, California, recycled paper mill owned by the Container Corporation of America. Ways for utilizing the waste heat from the fuel cell within the paper mill were studied. Several uses were identified which would reduce the amount of process steam now generated by conventional fossil-fueled boilers in the paper mill. The electrical energy from the fuel cell could be fed to the municipal electric system owned by the City of Santa Clara or could be used directly by the paper mill, depending upon the form of ownership for the fuel cell. In addition to assessing ownership alternatives for the fuel cell power plant, potential arrangements for operation and maintenance of the plant were studied. Also, the projected cost and availability of alternative fuels for the fuel cell were examined. Economic analyses were performed for several scenarios involving different fuels and ownership arrangements. Breakeven capital costs for the fuel cell power plant were computed for the various scenarios. Sensitivity studies were performed to determine the impact of variations in assumed base values for fuel price, electric rates, and other parameters. Total energy savings resulting from operation of the fuel cell power plant and the potential operational impact of the fuel cell power plant on the City of Santa Clara electric system and CCA Plant were also evaluated. The environmental implications of the fuel cell power plant were assessed in terms of the net changes in air emissions for particulates, sulfur dioxide, and oxides of nitrogen which would occur at the paper mill plant site. As part of the study, a proposed demonstration program was developed for actually installing the fuel cell power plant at the Santa Clara site. (ERA citation 05:001212)