Design and Feasibility Study of Biomass-Driven Combined Heat and Power Systems for Rural Communities

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-36
Author(s):  
Philippe Schicker ◽  
Dustin Spayde ◽  
Heejin Cho
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Power Systems ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emission ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Combined Heat And Power ◽  
Wood Pellets ◽  
Environmentally Sustainable ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Fuel Source

Abstract Meeting energy demands at crucial times can often be jeopardized by an unreliable power supply from the grid. Local, on-site power generation, such as combined heat and power (CHP) systems, may safeguard against grid fluctuations and outages. CHP systems can provide a more reliable and resilient energy supply to buildings and communities while it can also provide energy-efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable solutions compared to centralized power systems. With a recent increased focus on biomass as an alternative fuel source, biomass-driven CHP systems have been recognized as a potential technology to bring increased efficiency of fuel utilization and environmentally sustainable solutions. Biomass as an energy source is already created through agricultural and forestry by-products and may thus be efficient and convenient to be transported to remote rural communities. This paper presents a design and feasibility analysis of biomass-driven CHP systems for rural communities. The viability of wood pellets as a suitable fuel source is explored by comparing it to a conventional grid-connected system. To measure viability, three performance parameters – operational cost (OC), primary energy consumption (PEC), and carbon dioxide emission (CDE) – are considered in the analysis. The results demonstrate that under the right conditions wood pellet-fueled CHP systems create economic and environmental advantages over traditional systems. The main factors in increasing the viability of bCHP systems are the appropriate sizing and operational strategies of the system and the purchase price of biomass with respect to the price of traditional fuels.

Design and Feasibility Study of Biomass-Driven Combined Heat and Power Systems for Rural Communities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe C. Schicker ◽  
Dustin Spayde ◽  
Heejin Cho
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Power Systems ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emission ◽  
The United States ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Combined Heat And Power ◽  
Wood Pellets ◽  
Environmentally Sustainable ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Fuel Source

Abstract Meeting energy demands at crucial times can often be jeopardized by unreliable power supply from the grid. Local, on-site power generation, such as combined heat and power (CHP) systems, may safeguard against grid fluctuations and outages. CHP systems can provide more reliable and resilient energy supply to buildings and communities while it can also provide energy-efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable solutions compared to centralized power systems. With a recent increased focus on biomass as an alternative fuel source, biomass driven CHP systems have been recognized as a potential technology to bring increased efficiency of fuel utilization and environmentally sustainable solutions. Biomass as an energy source is already created through agricultural and forestry byproducts and may thus be efficient and convenient to be transported to remote rural communities. This paper presents a design and feasibility analysis of biomass (primarily wood pellets)-driven CHP systems for a rural community in the United States. A particular focus was set on rural Mississippi to investigate possible grid independent applications; however, this analysis can be scaled to rural communities across America. The viability of wood pellets (WP) as a suitable fuel source is explored by comparing it to a conventional grid-connected system. To measure viability, three performance parameters — operational cost (OC), primary energy consumption (PEC), and carbon dioxide emission (CDE) — are considered in the analysis. The results demonstrate that under the right conditions wood pellet-fueled CHP systems create economic and environmental advantages over traditional systems. The main factors in increasing the viability of bCHP systems are the appropriate sizing and operational strategies of system and the purchase price of biomass with respect to the price traditional fuels.

scholarly journals Design parameters influencing the operation of a CHP plant within a micro-grid: application of the ANOVA test

2020 ◽  
Vol 197 ◽  
pp. 01002
Author(s):  
Alberto Fichera ◽  
Arturo Pagano ◽  
Rosaria Volpe
Keyword(s):  
Power Systems ◽  
Programming Model ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Combined Heat And Power ◽  
Mixed Integer ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Statistical Tool ◽  
Cogeneration System ◽  
Micro Grid ◽  
Cost Parameters

Combined heat and power systems are widely recognized as a cost-effective solution for the achievement of sustainable and energy efficiency goals. During the last decade, cogeneration systems have been extensively studied from both the technological and operational viewpoints. However, the operation of a cogeneration system is a topic still worth of investigation. In fact, along with the determination of the optimal configurations of the combined heat and power systems, it is likewise fundamental to increase the awareness on the design and cost parameters affecting the operation of cogeneration systems, especially if considering the micro-grid in which they are inserted. In this direction, this paper proposed a mixed integer linear programming model with the objective of minimizing the total operational costs of the micro-grid. Different scenarios include the satisfaction of the cooling demands of the micro-grid as well as the opportuneness to include a heat storage. The influence of the main design and cost parameters on the operation of the micro-grid has been assessed by adopting the statistical tool ANOVA (Analysis Of Variance). The model and the experimental application of the ANOVA have been applied to a micro-grid serving a hospital located in the South of Italy.

scholarly journals Prospects of Fuel Cell Combined Heat and Power Systems

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 4104 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.G. Olabi ◽  
Tabbi Wilberforce ◽  
Enas Taha Sayed ◽  
Khaled Elsaid ◽  
Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Power Systems ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emission ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Combined Heat And Power ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Entire System ◽  
Good Efficiency ◽  
Electricity Cost ◽  
Research Activities

Combined heat and power (CHP) in a single and integrated device is concurrent or synchronized production of many sources of usable power, typically electric, as well as thermal. Integrating combined heat and power systems in today’s energy market will address energy scarcity, global warming, as well as energy-saving problems. This review highlights the system design for fuel cell CHP technologies. Key among the components discussed was the type of fuel cell stack capable of generating the maximum performance of the entire system. The type of fuel processor used was also noted to influence the systemic performance coupled with its longevity. Other components equally discussed was the power electronics. The thermal and water management was also noted to have an effect on the overall efficiency of the system. Carbon dioxide emission reduction, reduction of electricity cost and grid independence, were some notable advantages associated with fueling cell combined heat and power systems. Despite these merits, the high initial capital cost is a key factor impeding its commercialization. It is, therefore, imperative that future research activities are geared towards the development of novel, and cheap, materials for the development of the fuel cell, which will transcend into a total reduction of the entire system. Similarly, robust, systemic designs should equally be an active research direction. Other types of fuel aside, hydrogen should equally be explored. Proper risk assessment strategies and documentation will similarly expand and accelerate the commercialization of this novel technology. Finally, public sensitization of the technology will also make its acceptance and possible competition with existing forms of energy generation feasible. The work, in summary, showed that proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEM fuel cell) operated at a lower temperature-oriented cogeneration has good efficiency, and is very reliable. The critical issue pertaining to these systems has to do with the complication associated with water treatment. This implies that the balance of the plant would be significantly affected; likewise, the purity of the gas is crucial in the performance of the system. An alternative to these systems is the PEM fuel cell systems operated at higher temperatures.

A Micro-Combined Heat and Power Laboratory for Experiments in Applied Thermodynamics

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
John D. Flotterud ◽  
Christopher J. Damm ◽  
Benjamin J. Steffes ◽  
Jennifer J. Pfaff ◽  
Matthew J. Duffy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Systems ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Feasibility Studies ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Combined Heat And Power ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Distributed Power Generation ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Potential Methods

The purpose of this paper is to describe a micro-combined heat and power system, sized for residential distributed power generation, which was designed, constructed, and installed in the Advanced Energy Technologies Laboratory at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. The installation began as a Mechanical Engineering senior design project, in which students evaluated potential methods for distributed residential combined heat and power systems. Potential systems were evaluated based on cost-effectiveness in supplying the energy requirements of a typical residence in Milwaukee, WI, and they were also judged on their environmental impacts. Initial feasibility studies, undertaken with consideration of Milwaukee’s climatic conditions, found that a natural gas-fired, reciprocating engine-generator set with heat recovery exchangers could best meet the energy needs of a typical residence in a cost-effective manner. Following the design, fabrication, and installation of the system in the laboratory, the team designed and performed experiments to quantify the system performance. The system is currently configured to deliver 2 kW of electric power and 6 kW of thermal power, achieving an overall efficiency of 72%. The system is now used in two courses: Applied Thermodynamics, and Advanced Energy Technologies. During the cogeneration laboratories performed in these courses, students decide which measurements are needed and use the collected data to compute performance parameters, to complete an energy balance, and to perform a second-law analysis of the system.

Radial Inflow Turbine Assessment for Small-Scale Concentrated Solar Rankine Combined Heat and Power Technology

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah A. Sunter ◽  
Van P. Carey ◽  
Zack Norwood
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Power Systems ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Combined Heat And Power ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Geometric Parameters ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Brayton Cycle ◽  
Analysis Tools ◽  
Radial Inflow Turbine

Recent studies suggest that small scale (5–10kW) distributed solar Rankine combined heat and power could be a viable renewable energy strategy for displacing fossil fuel use in residential buildings, small commercial buildings, or developing rural communities. One of the primary obstacles of scaling down solar Rankine technology to this level is finding an appropriate expander design. This paper considers the radial-inflow turbine for such an application. Although well-tested methodologies exist for design analysis of radial inflow turbines, existing analysis tools are generally focused on machines using a combustion gases in a Brayton cycle. Use of Rankine cycle working fluids under conditions optimal for small scale Rankine solar systems result in turbine operating conditions that can be dramatically different from those in combustion-based Brayton cycle power systems. This investigation explored how analysis tools developed by NASA and others for conventional Brayton cycle power systems can be adapted to analyze and design radial inflow expanders for small scale Rankine solar combined heat and power systems. Using a 1D model derived from analysis methodologies used by NASA for conventional aerospace gas turbine power applications, the effect of reduced power output on performance is explored. Since the model contains several non-dimensional variables, a variety of geometries are surveyed, and performance sensitivity to various geometric parameters is observed. The interplay between radial inflow turbine performance and cycle efficiency for the system is examined in detail. Several fluids are compared to access how critical temperature and the shape of the saturation dome affect thermodynamic performance of the cycle and efficiency of the turbine. Conclusions regarding optimal fluids and geometric parameters for the radial-inflow turbine are discussed.

scholarly journals Micro Combined Heat and Power Systems – Evaluation of a Sample Application

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anayo A. Ezeamama ◽  
Eike Albrecht
Keyword(s):  
Power Systems ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Combined Heat And Power ◽  
Payback Period ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Baseline Scenario ◽  
Sample Application

The growing need for a secure, cost-effective, less polluting and efficient form of energy has contributed to an increasing interest in the use of micro combined heat and power (MCHP) systems. In this paper, the environmental performance and economic feasibility of a 1 kWe internal combustion engine (ICE) MCHP system in a one-family house was assessed and compared with the baseline scenario were residential energy demands are met with grid electricity and natural gas fired condensing boilers. The result of the analysis shows that MCHP systems present opportunities for savings in energy costs. Based on a social discount rate (SDR) of 5 % and a calculated 3259 operating hours, a simple payback period of about 4.8 years was derived as the time needed to recover the extra investment cost of the ICE unit. The result of the sensitivity analysis reveals that, both the running hours and price of electricity have significant effects on the payback period of the project. Considering the end of useful life period of the systems, MCHP offer a good replacement for conventional gas boilers of 90 % efficiency. However, their high initial costs (when compared to high efficiency condensing boilers), could be seen as the major factor hampering market diffusion. Also, considering the optimal environmental benefits, MCHP system produced more on-site CO2 emissions in reference to the condensing boiler but generally, annual CO2 emission is reduced by about 38 % when compared to the overall separate generation of heat and power scenario.

Research on Effect of Introducing Clean Energy in Compact City

2011 ◽  
Vol 361-363 ◽  
pp. 870-874
Author(s):  
Ling Jing ◽  
Jing Bo Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Power Systems ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Combined Heat And Power ◽  
Compact City ◽  
System A

This paper focuses on the effect of introducing clean energy in compact city. As is well known, carbon-dioxide emissions from burning gas are about half the level from coal. It is cleaner to generate electricity with natural gas than coal. When it is used for combined heat and power (CHP) system, utilization ratio and utilize benefit could be advanced considerably. This paper chooses a case in Changchun to research the effect. Three energy supply systems are set up, namely boiler system (system A) and two combined heat and power systems (system B and system C). The intensity of energy consumption of Changchun could be reckoned according to the intensity of energy consumption of Tokyo and the ratio of Degree-day of the two cities. Likewise, equipment efficiency, equipment price, energy price, CO2 emission intensity and depreciation rate are postulated. According to calculated and given data to calculate primary energy consumption, CO2emission, initial cost, annual operation costs and payback periods. The results are as follows: CHP systems (system B and system C) energy saving rates are respectively 22.9% and 8.0%, CO2 reduction rates are respectively 24.6% and 10.0%, payback periods are respectively 7.8 and 4.3 years relative to the boiler system (system A). Comparing the results of three systems, it could conclude that CHP systems (system B and system C) using natural gas would be attractive options when introducing energy system in compact cities.

scholarly journals Energy assessment of different cooling technologies in Ti-6Al-4V milling

2021 ◽  
Vol 112 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 3279-3306
Author(s):  
Paolo Albertelli ◽  
Michele Monno
Keyword(s):  
Energy Performance ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Cryogenic Cooling ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Tribological Behaviour ◽  
Dry Cutting ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Energy Assessment ◽  
Energy Models ◽  
Conventional Cooling

AbstractManufacturing craves for more sustainable solutions for machining heat-resistant alloys. In this paper, an assessment of different cooling lubrication approaches for Ti6Al4V milling was carried out. Cryogenic cutting (liquid nitrogen) and conventional cooling (oil-based fluid) were assessed with respect to dry cutting. To study the effects of the main relevant process parameters, proper energy models were developed, validated and then used for comparing the analysed cooling lubrication strategies. The model parameters were identified exploiting data from specifically conceived experiments. The power assessment was carried out considering different perspectives, with a bottom-up approach. Indeed, it was found that cryogenic cooling, thanks to a better tribological behaviour, is less energy demanding (at least 25%) than dry and conventional cutting. If the spindle power is considered, lower saving percentages can be expected. Cryogenic cooling showed its best energy performance (from 3 to 11 times) with respect to conventional cutting if the machine tool perspective is analysed. Considering even the primary energy required for producing the cutting fluids, the assessment showed that cryogenic cooling requires up to 19 times the energy required for conventional cutting.

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