Analysis of a modular high efficiency Polygeneration System in a Science and Technological Park
Polygeneration systems refers to highly efficiency integrated systems characterized by the simultaneously production of different services (electricity, heating, cooling, water, etc) by means of several technologies using fossil and/or renewable energy sources. In many cases it is difficult to promote polygeneration projects due to its complexity. This complexity mainly comes from the high energy integration of the technologies involved in polygeneration plants and the high variability in the energy demand in many applications in the building sector that makes the design and optimal operation of these systems quite complex. The result is that without a very careful design and operation of these plants the economic viability is in many cases not clear. In this paper is presented an economic, energetic and environmental analysis of a polygeneration system in Cerdanyola del Vallès (Spain) built in the framework of the Polycity project of the European Concerto Program. This polygeneration system comprises three high efficient natural gas cogeneration engines with a total power capacity of about 10 MW with advanced thermal cooling facilities including a single effect hot water driven chiller and a double effect chiller of 5 MW driven directly by the exhaust gases of the engines. This plant provides electricity, heating and cooling to a new Science and Technological Park in development including a Synchrotron Light Facility through a district heating and cooling network with a total length of more than 30 km. The operational data for the energy performance analysis was taken using the plant SCADA system and a monitoring system specific for the cooling units in order to study in detail its performance. The results show that the polygeneration plant is an efficient way to reduce the primary energy consumption and CO2 emissions although it is not yet at its full capacity