Modeling and Optimizing the Performance of an Industrial Trigeneration Unit

Abstract

Trigeneration provides an effective means of power, heat, and cold production on site. Proper design and well-managed operation of such units can bring in substantial savings in consumed primary energy as well as in the amount of greenhouse gases released to the atmosphere, compared to separate production of all three media. The studied sub-MW-sized trigeneration unit comprises an internal combustion engine combined with an absorption chiller and a heat management system, delivering all three media to a nearby industrial facility. A mathematical model is developed based on available design and process data, a profit function is set up, and the subsequent sensitivity analysis of economic parameters is realized. The lowered efficiency of summer operation is analyzed, and a suitable solution is proposed, with an estimated total investment cost of EUR 114,000 and an anticipated simple payback period less than 2 years.

Keywords

• trigeneration
• natural gas
• waste heat
• process data
• cold production
• profit function