Search results for "Cogeneration"
showing 10 items of 47 documents
Thermoeconomic analysis of a coupled municipal solid waste thermovalorization–MSF desalination plant: an Italian case study
2006
Abstract A thermoeconomic analysis of a cogenerative system with steam bleedings produced starting from the thermal energy recovered in a municipal solid waste thermovalorization plant is presented. The authors assume that the bled steam is used to feed a seawater multi-stage flash (MSF) desalination plant. A case study was carried out for the desalination plant, which operates in Raffineria di Gela (Sicily). In particular, the MSF process is described and the most significant features of the plant are presented. Besides, an economic analysis of a hypothetically coupled MSW thermovalorization–MSF plant was carried out to estimate the capital and operating costs and the gain derived from the…
MED parallel system powered by concentrating solar power (CSP): model and case study: Trapani, Sicily
2014
Abstract: This work presents an overlook on a new model that simulates the physical operation in steady state of a multi-effect distillation (MED) plant with parallel-feed (P) configuration. This model includes the consumption of steam with steam ejectors, and its validation was done using data from a real MED industrial plant using a thermal vapor compressor (TVC) operating in Italy, in the Sicilian city of Trapani. Results show that the MED model returns accurate predictions of the plant behavior, very useful for a first analysis on such type of investments. This MED model was also integrated into the system advisor model developed by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Simulatio…
A comprehensive tool for efficient design and operation of polygeneration-based energy μgrids serving a cluster of buildings. Part II: Analysis of th…
2013
Abstract The potential of polygeneration systems, in terms of profitability, energy saving and pollutant emissions reduction, highly depends on several factors such as plant efficiency, local normative and tariff conditions and reference technologies adopted to compare the results. In Part I of this paper a reliable tool was described, capable of optimizing the lay-out, design and operation of an integrated polygeneration system serving a cluster of buildings with their heat, cooling and power demand; the tool represents an excellent instrument to perform sensitivity analyses, thus enabling the analyst to formulate general design criteria and predict the effects of any change in the boundar…
A dynamic model for MED-TVC transient operation
2017
Abstract The Multi Effect Distillation (MED) process is often proposed as a key technology for the construction of new thermal desalination plants, especially within solar-powered cogeneration schemes. With this respect, the need for transient behaviour analysis requires the development of dynamic models for the MED process. Only a few have been presented so far in the literature, in which, however, several simplifying assumptions and constrains are still limiting their potential use. The model here proposed addresses most of the aspects still limiting previous models formulations. The powerful equation-based process simulator gPROMS® was chosen for the implementation of the model, develope…
Energy and environmental impacts of Energy related products (ErP): a case study of biomass-fuelled systems
2014
Abstract Energy-related Products (ErP) account for a large proportion of European energy and natural resource consumption. In 2007, ErP were responsible for the consumption of about 239 Mtoe of electricity and about 555 Mtoe of fuels. In order to reduce the energy and environmental impacts of these products, the European Commission published the Directive 2009/125/EC on the eco-design of ErP. This Directive represents a key component of European policy for improving the energy and environmental performances of products in the internal market. In this context, it is important to develop scientific research aimed at assessing the energy and environmental impacts of ErP, and at defining their …
Performance evaluation of CHCP hybrid seawater desalination plants
2007
There are many ways to improve efficiency and reduce fresh water cost in desalination plants, like the integration of two or more desalination systems into a hybrid mechanical/thermal lay-out. Most common results that could be achieved by hybrid systems are savings in pretreatments, overall cost reduction and significant primary energy savings, especially when cogeneration unit are concerned. In this paper a small size (2000 m 3 /day) thermal desalination system (MEE) is coupled with a single-stage seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) system; the system is fed by a natural gas (NG) reciprocate engine, where heat is recovered both from exhaust gases and from the cooling jacket water circuit. Tech…
Cogeneration plant in a pasta factory: Energy saving and environmental benefit
2007
Abstract Italy produces approximately 4,520,000 tons of pasta annually, which is about 67% of its total productive potential. As factories need electric and thermal energy simultaneously, combined heat and power (CHP) systems are the most suitable. This paper describes a feasibility study of a CHP plant in a pasta factory in Italy while analyzing energy saving and environmental benefits. Commercially available CHP systems suitable for the power range of energy demand in pasta production use reciprocating engines or gas turbines. This study demonstrates how their use can reduce both energy costs and CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas emission in the environment. An economic analysis was performed…
A measurement methodology for monitoring a CHCP pilot plant for an office building
2003
Abstract In Mediterranean areas, climate conditions determine quite equal demand both for thermal and cooling energy. The possibility to convert a cooling demand in thermal one through an absorption chiller allows to extend widely the number of running hours of a cogeneration plant. A trigeneration pilot plant for two office building is described, in which an integrated lay-out includes a NG prime mover with heat exchanger, an absorption chiller and a reversible heat pump. The pilot plant is completed and pre-running test were performed. Different fluid dynamics parameters will be monitored, in order to build the actual cumulative curve for thermal power. The measurement methodology is also…
A circuit model of a 5kW fuel cell
2013
In the last few years, industrial research has been focused on renewable energy sources. Owing to combined heat-power generation option, fuel cells have attracted much interest for a wide variety of research areas. Household appliances are still the most promising applications. Fuel cell modeling is still a critical topic to focus on, affecting each stage of power system design. This paper describes an empirical method to model a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. The modeling approach is applied to a 5kW Nuvera PowerFlow fuel cell. A circuit model is proposed for further applications. PSPICE implementation is described and the parameters tuning procedure is discussed. Simulation and exper…
Life Cycle Assessment of electricity production from refuse derived fuel: A case study in Italy
2020
Biomasses and bio-waste have an important role in decarbonizing the European energy mix, the latter contributing to the transition towards a circular economy. In particular, Refuse Derived Fuel (RFD) - a biofuel obtained from dry residue of waste - appears a really interesting energy option. In this framework this study aims at assessing the environmental profile of electricity generation from RDF in Italy, comparing two different kinds of RDF production and combustion plants. The functional unit is 1 kWh of net electricity from RDF delivered to the grid. Two Italian plants are examined: one located in Ravenna (RDF is produced in a direct flow treatment plant) and the other one in Bergamo (…