Experimental results of a micro-trigeneration installation

• Published in: Applied thermal engineering Vol. 38; pp. 78 - 90
• Main Authors: Angrisani, G., Rosato, A., Roselli, C., Sasso, M., Sibilio, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: 3-E analysis; Applied sciences; Availability; Cogeneration; Combined power plants; Communities; Control systems; Cooling systems; Economic analysis; Energy; Energy saving; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Engines and turbines; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Greenhouse effect; Greenhouse gases; Heat transfer; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; Natural gas; Theoretical studies. Data and constants. Metering; Thermally driven cooling system; Trigeneration; 3-E analysis; Cogeneration; Trigeneration; Energy saving; Thermally driven cooling system; Availability; Experimental test; Cooling; Energy economy; Pollutant emission; Operating conditions; European community; Energy conservation; Cooling system; Primary energy; Internal combustion engine; Performance; Natural gas; Combined power plant
• ISSN: 1359-4311
• DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2012.01.018

Micro-cogeneration is a well-established technology and its deployment has been considered by the European Community as one of the most effective measure to save primary energy and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Micro-trigeneration systems are also gaining an increasing interest thanks to the availability of small thermally driven cooling systems and the increasing demand for space cooling during the warm season. At the Built Environment Control Laboratory of Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, a micro-cogenerator based on natural gas fuelled reciprocating internal combustion engine that can be coupled with a thermal-chemical absorption system has been set-up in order to experimentally investigate the on-site performances of both micro-cogeneration system and micro-trigeneration system under real operating conditions. This paper deals with the description of experimental plant and the results of first experimental tests. The analysis of the measured data is carried out from an energy, economic and environmental point of view, by comparing the performances of the proposed system with those of the conventional system and the best available technology. ► Performances of a micro-cogeneration system have been experimentally evaluated. ► Performances of a micro-trigeneration system have been experimentally evaluated. ► Data have been analyzed from an energy, economic and environmental point of view.