Feasibility study of hybrid fuel cell and geothermal heat pump used for air conditioning in Algeria

Hybrid Energy System (HES) is mainly based on proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) technology, which is supplied by a fuel reforming process for hydrogen production, starting from natural gas. The exhaust heat from the PEMFC is evacuated to a thermal storage tank (TST) mixed with water provided by geothermal source, The bath (Hammam) Sidi Aïssa 47 °C, TST hot water maintained to 47 °C is used in a fan coil for canteen heating in Si Ben Salah School located in Saïda (NW of Algeria). Cooling is assured by the air conditioning sub-system made of a fan coil and heat pump using cool water tank. The experimental analysis of the air conditioning device is done for canteen application for cooling and heating modes. The feasibility study shows that using the geothermal sources located in Northern Algeria and low temperature PEMFC for air conditioning is a promising solution.