Cogeneration versus industrial waste heat

The National Energy Administration has, by direction from the Swedish Government, made a study of the conditions for future small scale cogeneration of electricity and heat in Sweden. Small scale cogeneration is there defined as cogeneration plants not larger than 25 MW_e. The analysis in this paper deals with anenergy system where small scale cogeneration is one of several ways to provide electricity and heat in an industrial area in Avesta, Sweden. The cogeneration heat has to compete with the waste heat from industrial processes and low temperature heat from the river and ambient air. There is also the municipal district heating system to take into consideration for the supply of heat to the area. In this competitive situation one is motivated to make an analysis of the system in order to find out how best to use the different possibilities for energy supply. The time period covered by the analysis is 10 years, from 1988 to 1977.     

燃气-蒸汽联合循环余热回收系统性能研究

燃气发电是我国城市供电的主要形式之一,针对LNG接收站一体的电厂发电模式进行研究,提出一种新型燃气-蒸汽联合循环热电联供系统,利用超临界CO2布雷顿循环结合有机朗肯循环(ORC)辅助发电,将LNG作为冷源,对烟气余热进行三级利用.通过构建热力学和经济模型,以Aspen Plus软件模拟值为基础,结果表明:在消耗燃料1....     

Methodological specifics of the study of micro HPP based on internal combustion engines with air cooling and cogeneration

The article considers some aspects of the research methodology of micro heat power plants based on internal combustion engines with air cooling and cogeneration based on energy balance equations and the laws of heat transfer. The research is conducted for such a setup based on the Hitachi internal combustion engine with 2.4 kW capacity. It has shown the efficiency of cogeneration use in the form of useful heat flow from air, cooling the cylinder head, with its further heating by utilizing the heat of flue gases in an additional plate heat exchanger. It has been shown that the cogeneration can save fuel costs 3–10 times compared with heat guns, depending on the duration of the setup use.     

Production or conservation in CHP networks?

In Sweden, Combined generation of Heat and Power (CHP) is in common practice. Different fuels are burnt in a boiler and the steam is used for generating electricity. The heat that has to be transferred from the condenser in the plant is used in the district heating grid. This grid is thus used as a cooling facility necessary for electricity production. However, energy conservation the Swedish building stock is also encouraged, and if this is utilized in district heated buildings it results in fewer possibilities for electricity production. This might be a major drawback when nuclear power is abolished, as is the result from a consensus some years ago. This paper deals with the question of whether it is better to conserve both heat and electricity, to save only one of the energy forms or if it is cheaper to produce more energy, instead of saving. A case study is presented dealing with Malmö, in the South of Sweden, and it is shown that energy conservation in district heated buildings cannot yield profitability: neither can conservation in the electricity grid, even if it gets closer to profitable savings. It is assumed that the total cost of heating, insulation and electricity is paid by the society and the minimum point for this cost will characterize the best solution.     

Computer program for determining optimal running conditions of a steam turbine cogeneration system

Cogeneration is an efficient way of using energy and at a national level permits an important saving in primary energy. Different systems include those with a back-pressure steam turbine and those with a pass-out condensing steam turbine.This paper deals with the basis and structure of a software pack that enables the user to determine the optimal running conditions in either case. The program is interactive, written in FORTRAN 77 and composed of six program blocks. Each block is responsible for one basic aspect of the analysis process.Because the objective function is non-linear and only point values are available, instead of algebraic expressions, the complex optimization algorithm is used. The object of the function is to minimize the hourly fuel and electricity costs during operation.Finally, the program has been applied to a cogeneration installation with a 970 kW back-pressure turbine. The results indicate that the system sometimes produces more steam per hour than required, the excess being due to the fact that the profit from the sale of electricity is greater than the cost of steam production.     

Criteria for integration of combined cycle cogeneration systems in the process industries

Cogeneration systems often provide a very effective means of integrating power generation with the provision of thermal energy to an industrial process. Various types of power generating machines can be used, but combined cycle cogeneration systems can offer significant advantages over other technologies in many medium and large scale applications. The systems that are used consist of fired prime movers (usually gas turbines), discharging their exhaust heat into heat recovery steam generators. The steam raised in this way is passed through back-pressure steam turbines to extract additional power before finally delivering its residual heat content to process heating duties.This paper presents an overview of the economic trade-offs in the design of single cycle and combined cycle systems. Generalizations are derived from this investigation, leading to the identification of three distinct classes of problem for which different types of cogeneration systems (combined cycle or single cycle) are appropriate. Case study results are presented to illustrate the principles employed.     

Energy from biomass

The potential future bioenergy contribution to the global energy supply is outlined. Severe constraints have to be applied since biomass is used for many different purposes. It is likely that biofuels from primary agricultural products may not increase much above the current 1% of all liquid motor fuels in order to secure food for people and cattle. Bioenergy from forestry should only be used whereever it is absolutely essential. Deforestation results in a net emission of CO₂ to the atmosphere that is equal to that of the USA. Rather than to replace fossil fuels by forest bioenergy, deforestation must be halted. The management of the Swedish annual forest growth shows how a carbon sink can be developed in parallel with biomass for energy and industry. The most promising way of getting energy from biomass is to use the residues in forestry and agriculture. If this is properly done the current annual global bioenergy may double from its present value of 13,000 TWh in the next few decades.     

Two case studies of cogeneration systems design and economic feasibility

Cogeneration is an ideal method of power production for applications which require both heat and power simultaneously, hence the name combined heat power (CHP). In this paper, design studies of cogeneration systems for two specific applications are presented. The results indicate the economic feasibility of such installations and how much energy can be saved, especially if the system is analysed on a long-term basis. It is shown that an essential requirement for cogeneration is the proper matching of power and heat demands.The first design study is of a combined power and heating system for a small suburban hospital which requires both steam and power for its various needs. The cogeneration system which was designed for this application consisted of a conventional turbo-charged spark ignition engine with heat exchange from its exhaust and engine cooling systems, coupled with an existing boiler. When the cogeneration system is inadequate to meet the electricity demands, the excess power would be bought from the grid supply. For an initial outlay of approximately $250,000 (1990 prices), an annual saving of $140,000 was conservatively predicted, with an internal rate of return of some 40% over 15 yr.The second design study is for the energy system of a large sugar confectionery factory with power and heat requirements, mainly for lighting, air conditioning and several manufacturing processes. The hardware which was chosenfor the cogeneration system for this case comprises a diesel engine converted for use with natural gas connected to a vertical shell and tube exhaust gas boiler. For an initial investment of approximately $700,000, an annual saving of about $130,000 (1991 prices) is predicted for a 10–15 yr project. The savings and the payback period depend on the electricity buy-back tariffs and the company's plans for future expansion.     

生物柴油发动机非常规排放的FTIR检测

采用傅里叶变换红外光谱FTIR,研究了汽车发动机燃用生物柴油的非常规排放物。所用燃料分别为纯柴油、纯生物柴油、生物柴油掺混比为20%的B20混合燃料。结果表明,该机燃用纯柴油和B20燃油的甲醛排放差别不大,纯生物柴油的甲醛排放则明显高于柴油。燃用B20燃油的乙醛排放略低于纯柴油;纯生物柴油的乙醛排放在中低负荷低于纯柴油,在高负荷时高于柴油及B20燃油。燃用B20燃油和纯生物柴油的丙酮排放要高于柴油,但排放量均较低。随着生物柴油掺混比例的增加,发动机甲苯和二氧化硫均呈逐渐下降趋势,纯生物柴油的二氧化硫排放大幅降低。燃用生物柴油后,发动机的二氧化碳排放有所降低,表明了生物柴油有利于温室气体的控制。     

一种值得关注的城市天然气消费方式:双源可逆型供暖(空调)系统

本文对00100102．7号专利提出的“双源可逆型供暖系统”进行了比较深入的剖析,认为这一方案与常规锅炉方案相比,节能效果显著;与电驱动热泵供暖方案相比,可靠性高;与热电联产方案相比,由于终端产品单一,所消费的一次能源量要大幅度地减少,与热电联产方案另一不同点是摆脱了所谓“上网问题”的困扰,实在是一种值得关注的城市天然气消费方式。     

Second law analysis of a cogeneration power-absorption cooling plant

In this work the second law of thermodynamics analysis for a cogeneration power-absorption cooling plant is carried out. A typical reference steam power plant is used in the analysis to show the efficient use of fuel in producing both power and process heat to operate absorption cooling units for air-conditioning purposes.The analysis shows that in the cogeneration plant proposed, a better utilization of fuel is achieved as compared to a single purpose power plant or boiler driven absorption unit.     

Thermodynamic Analysis and Optimization of a Novel Power-Water Cogeneration System for Waste Heat Recovery of Gas Turbine

A power-water cogeneration system based on a supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle (SCBC) and reverse osmosis (RO) unit is proposed and analyzed in this paper to recover the waste heat of a gas turbine. In order to improve the system performance, the power generated by SCBC is used to drive the RO unit and the waste heat of SCBC is used to preheat the feed seawater of the RO unit. In particular, a dual-stage cooler is employed to elevate the preheating temperature as much as possible. The proposed system is simulated and discussed based on the detailed thermodynamic models. According to the results of parametric analysis, the exergy efficiency of SCBC first increases and then decreases as the turbine inlet temperature and split ratio increase. The performance of the RO unit is improved as the preheating temperature rises. Finally, an optimal exergy efficiency of 52.88% can be achieved according to the single-objective optimization results.     

The effect of the operating parameters of heat recovery steam generators on combined cycle/sea-water desalination plant performance

Combined gas/steam turbine cycle plants have been proposed for cogeneration of electricity and process steam. Examples are combined-cycle power plants coupled with sea-water desalination, district heating plants, chemical industries, etc. In combined heat and power plants, the gas turbine exhaust heat is utilized through the use of heat recovery steam generators (HRSG's). As a result, these waste heat generators (boilers), whether fired or unfired, control the performance of the combined plant lower side (bottoming cycle). Moreover, any changes made in the HRSG operating parameters (i.e. the pinch point, approach temperature, first and second stage pressures, and mass ratios) can greatly affect the HRSG performance and will eventually affect the overall combined plant performance. This paper presents a method to predict the performance of the heat recovery steam generators (HRSG)/steam bottoming cycle combined with sea-water desalination plant at various steam and exhaust gas conditions.     

Optimizing a refinery using the pinch technology and the mind method

The Pinch Technology and the MIND method are combined in the analysis of a Swedish refinery. The heat exchanger network of the crude distillation system is analysed using the Pinch Technology. The results show that the steam demand from the boiler units in the energy supply part of the system can be reduced by 20% in the optimized heat exchanger network and by 21% when a heat pump is added to the system. A multi-period cost optimization of the operating strategy is performed using the MIND method. The results from the Pinch analysis are then input to the MIND optimization. The system cost of the total energy system of the refinery is optimized with regard to flexibility in the process system as well as changes of energy costs and the operating conditions of the cogeneration unit. The combination of methods shows that significant capital savings can be achieved when the energy saving potential of the process system is integrated in the overall operating strategy of the energy system. It is, in this case, possible to compare investments in energy saving measures to investments in increased steam production capacity.     

Absorption cycles. A review with regard to energetic efficiency

The improvement of energy conversion systems in order to decrease consumption of primary energy and to minimize negative impact on the environment which originates from industries with large cooling and heating demand is mandatory. We want to review the potential of absorption heat pump technology in this respect. Absorption systems are compared to conventional compression systems with regard to the consumption of primary energy. Different areas of application such as air-conditioning, refrigeration, heating, combined cooling and heating, and process heat recovery are treated. Absorption systems have a large potential for energy saving, especially when they are operated by heat from cogeneration systems or, of course, by waste heat. But even direct-fired systems can compete with compression machinery: highly efficient cycles which perform far better than comparable conventional machines are in development.     

Energy recovery from municipal solid waste incineration—A review

Heat recovery from the incineration of municipal solid waste (MSW) can make a useful contribution to the nation's energy needs. This paper reviews the literature on the field of energy recovery from MSW incineration. This review includes (1) An historical background on the MSW methods of disposal and the recent trends. (2) The potential role of waste as a fuel from the knowledge of its analysis, heating value and quantity. (3) The alternative methods of waste disposal including the thermal (mass incineration, refuse-derived fuel and pyrolysis), the mechanical and the biochemical processes. (4) Some economic considerations regarding MSW disposal costs. (5) The combustion characteristics of MSW and waste combustion plants. (6) Heat recovery from waste burning including the main types of waste heat boilers; the heat recovery rates; heat exchange boundary conditions; fouling, erosion and corrosion of waste heat boilers; control of waste incineration particulate emissions and finally the control of nitrogen oxides emissions. The intensive data given here is essential to the proper design and operation of any MSW-to-energy plant. The design needs to be undertaken with careful consideration of the experience that already exists in order to achieve success.     

Sequential hydrothermal gasification of biomass to hydrogen

A new technology, in which a renewable biomass is used to produce hydrogen fuel, is described. This hydrogen can be used as a feed for fuel cells to generate electricity or in other energy-producing processes. Degradation and gasification of cellulose-based biomass in compressed water was studied in the 100–400 °C temperature range. Phase behavior of the cellulose in subcritical water was studied in a diamond-anvil cell, coupled with optical microscopy, at heating rates of 1 and 5 °C/s. Homogeneous conditions of a single water-cellulose phase were established. Complete dissolution of the cellulose was achieved at 333 °C. The evolution mechanism based on a rapid hydrolysis of the cellulose to oligomers and glucose is suggested. Glucose was then used as a model compound to characterize the chemistry of biomass gasification. A 0.1-M glucose solution was fed into a continuous-flow reactor at a pressure of 100 bar using an HPLC pump. Catalytic effects of Pt/Al₂O₃ on the gasification temperature were determined. Gas product composition was analyzed using online GC-TCD. A mixture of H₂, CO₂, and CH₄ gas was produced. Quantitative analysis of the total organic carbon in the liquid residue indicated 67% carbon gasification efficiency at 330 °C. Qualitative analyses of liquid residues showed that the main decomposition products in the liquid phase were alcohols and carboxylic acids. It was shown that the hydrogen fuel could be efficiently generated from biomass.     

Solid oxide fuel cell technology development in the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is leading the development and demonstration of high efficiency and low cost solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and fuel cell turbine (FCT) hybrid power generation systems primarily under the Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA). Additional long-term basic research is performed at the High Temperature Electrochemistry Center (HiTEC). Distributed generation (DG) systems have ultra low emissions, produce water, and can be configured to isolate/segregate carbon dioxide – all features useable in FutureGen and advanced coal-based systems.     

Linear programming optimization in CHP networks

This paper shows how to simulate a CHP network (CHP = Combined Heat and Power) using the method of linear programming. This method makes it possible to optimize the mathematical model and subsequently find the very best combination of electricity production, electricity purchase and heat production in a district heating system. The optimal solution in the model is characterized by the lowest possible operating cost for year. The paper shows the design of the mathermatical model and furthermore a case study is presented using the district heating net in Malmö, Sweden, as an example.     

Hydrogen enrichment enhances soot formation in swirl-stabilized non-premixed turbulent combustion of ethylene in a model gas turbine combustor

A switch from fossil fuels to hydrogen is currently not feasible mostly due to supply and infrastructure issues. One of the possible approaches, and this is now practiced to a limited extent in industrial gas turbines, is to blend relatively small amounts of hydrogen with fossil fuels curbing the carbon dioxide emissions. However, studies assessing the influence of modest amounts of hydrogen blending with hydrocarbon fuels on soot processes yielded contradictory results. Most of these experimental and numerical studies were performed on laminar diffusion flames and studies on turbulent flames are scarce. One of the confounding factors in assessing the influence of hydrogen is selection of a control experiment in which the fossil fuel is blended with the same amount of an inert diluent. Using helium in the control experiment is preferable because of its similar transport properties and heat capacity to those of hydrogen. Hence, we studied the soot processes in a model gas turbine combustor in which the flame is stabilized by an air swirl. Swirl-stabilized platform ensures that with and without hydrogen/helium dilution, the hydrodynamics of the combustor stays fixed. Base fuel ethylene is supplemented with hydrogen or helium by the same amount to separate the dilution affects and assess the direct chemical interaction of hydrogen related to soot formation. Soot volume fraction and primary soot particle diameters were measured by auto-compensating laser induced-incandescence for all cases. Flow field data obtained using stereoscopic particle image velocimetry is utilized to ascertain the hydrodynamic effects on soot distribution due to addition of lighter species. Soot formation was found to be enhanced by the addition of hydrogen when allowance was made for the dilution effect using the helium doped flame experiments. Possible causes of this observation including the molecular diffusivities of hydrogen and helium, and chemical interaction are discussed.