This paper investigates energy savings and economic aspects related to the use of microturbine generators in commercial buildings either for cogeneration or for trigeneration (electricity, heat and cold). In all calculations, reference is made to a -class commercial microturbine generator (MTG), tested by the authors. Various plant schemes are considered, based on one or several MTG sets. The possibility of generating heat and/or cold also by an electrically driven inverse-cycle air-to-water heat pump/chiller system is also considered. Calculations are based on the simulation code TRIGEN developed by the authors. The code provides detailed energy, economic and emission yearly balances. The plant operating mode is optimized in each time interval. The results indicate that, due to large load variations, (i) the optimum turbine nominal output is in the range of about 70% of the electric peak demand, (ii) energy savings are marginal, (iii) advantages related to splitting the overall capacity on more than one unit are marginal, and (iv) the addition of an absorption machine improves the plant economics.
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e-mail: stefano.campanari@polimi.it
e-mail: luca.boncompagni@polimi.it
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January 2004
Technical Papers
Microturbines and Trigeneration: Optimization Strategies and Multiple Engine Configuration Effects
S. Campanari, Research Assistant,
e-mail: stefano.campanari@polimi.it
S. Campanari, Research Assistant
Energetics Department, Politecnico di Milano, Piza Leonardo da Vinci, 32, Milano 20133, Italy
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L. Boncompagni, Ph.D. Candidate,
e-mail: luca.boncompagni@polimi.it
L. Boncompagni, Ph.D. Candidate
Energetics Department, Politecnico di Milano, Piza Leonardo da Vinci, 32, Milano 20133, Italy
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E. Macchi, Full Professor of Energy Conversion
E. Macchi, Full Professor of Energy Conversion
Energetics Department, Politecnico di Milano, Piza Leonardo da Vinci, 32, Milano 20133, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
S. Campanari, Research Assistant
Energetics Department, Politecnico di Milano, Piza Leonardo da Vinci, 32, Milano 20133, Italy
e-mail: stefano.campanari@polimi.it
L. Boncompagni, Ph.D. Candidate
Energetics Department, Politecnico di Milano, Piza Leonardo da Vinci, 32, Milano 20133, Italy
e-mail: luca.boncompagni@polimi.it
E. Macchi, Full Professor of Energy Conversion
Energetics Department, Politecnico di Milano, Piza Leonardo da Vinci, 32, Milano 20133, Italy
Contributed by the International Gas Turbine Institute (IGTI) of THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS for publication in the ASME JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING FOR GAS TURBINES AND POWER. Paper presented at the International Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exhibition, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, June 3–6, 2002; Paper No. 2002-GT-30417. Manuscript received by IGTI, December 2001, final revision, March 2002. Associate Editor: E. Benvenuti.
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. Jan 2004, 126(1): 92-101 (10 pages)
Published Online: March 2, 2004
Article history
Received:
December 1, 2001
Revised:
March 1, 2002
Online:
March 2, 2004
Citation
Campanari, S., Boncompagni, L., and Macchi, E. (March 2, 2004). "Microturbines and Trigeneration: Optimization Strategies and Multiple Engine Configuration Effects ." ASME. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. January 2004; 126(1): 92–101. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1622410
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