A novel micro tri-generation system which combines a direct flame fuel cell, a boiler and a double-effect absorption chiller is proposed and analyzed for residential applications. Parametric analyses are conducted to investigate the effects of operating parameters (i.e. the equivalence ratio and the fuel utilization factor of the fuel cell) on the system efficiency and the thermal-to-electric ratio. Then optimum operating parameters are determined based on the typical energy demand of Hong Kong in the summer and the typical energy demand of Beijing in the winter, respectively. It is found that very high efficiency (over 90%) can be achieved by this novel tri-generation system for both Hong Kong and Beijing. Besides, the system is modified for combined heat and power cogeneration, combined cooling and power cogeneration and their efficiencies are compared with the tri-generation system to evaluate the effect of each single unit on the whole system. Copyright (C) 2014, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.