IEA/ECBCS Annex 42 Publications

The following Annex 42 publications are available for download:

Annex 42 Final Report

  • An Experimental and Simulation-Based Investigation of the Performance of Small-Scale Fuel Cell and Combustion-Based Cogeneration Devices Serving Residential Buildings:

    This report summarizes the results of IEA/ECBCS Annex 42, an international task-shared research effort conducted by 26 organizations in 10 countries over the course of 5 years. Annex 42 conducted experimental work and developed simulation models to advance the design, operation, and analysis of residential cogeneration systems, and applied these models to assess their technical, environmental, and economic performance.

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    • Subtask A: The characterization cogeneration systems and occupant driven electrical and domestic hot water usage patterns. Subtask B: Development, implementation and validation of cogeneration system models in building simulation programs.
    • Specifications for Modelling Fuel Cell and Combustion-Based Residential Cogeneration Devices within Whole-Building Simulation Programs:

      This report contains the model specifications for the fuel cell and combustion cogeneration models developed by Annex 42.

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    • Experimental Investigation of Residential Cogeneration Devices and Calibration of Annex 42 Models:

      This report documents the experimental investigations of residential cogeneration systems conducted within Annex 42 and the subsequent calibration of the Annex 42 models using these data.

      Annex 42 has developed two models for simulating the performance of residential-scale cogeneration devices. One of these models treats fuel cell systems while the other treats combustion-based systems (Stirling engines and internal combustion engines).

      These models were developed using a "grey box" approach, wherein the structure of the model is roughly related to the basic underlying physical processes. However, many of the characteristic equations used in the models take the form of parametric equations describing the relationships between key input and output parameters. One of the models also features equations that describe time-varying characteristics such as dynamic heat exchange. Each of these parametric equations requires the input of empirical constants that characterize the performance of subsystems of specific cogeneration devices. The establishment of these empirical constants is known as the process of model calibration.

      With regard to model calibration, a review of available experimental data was undertaken within Annex 42. It was apparent from this review that few existing datasets had data suitable for model calibration purposes. It was therefore extremely important that, given the lack of data in the literature, any experimental data collected during Annex 42?s experimental testing programme should be of sufficient detail and breadth to facilitate model calibration. To this end, an experimental protocol was developed for experimental work conducted within Annex 42.

      Seven Annex 42 participants from six countries conducted experiments with prototype or early market residential cogeneration devices. In total, 13 separate investigations were conducted on devices of the following types:

      • Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC);
      • Polymer exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC);
      • Stirling engine (SE);
      • Internal combustion engine (ICE);
      In some cases these experimental programmes were conducted prior to the establishment of the experimental protocol, but where possible the protocol was adhered to for the purposes of collecting data suitable for model calibration purposes.

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    • Inter-model Comparative Testing and Empirical Validation of Annex 42 Models for Residential Cogeneration Devices :

      This report documents the comparative testing and empirical validation of the Annex 42 residential cogeneration system models.

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    Subtask C: Demonstrative technical, environmental and economic assessment of selected cogeneration applications using the models developed in Subtask B.