High efficiency cogeneration and trigeneration software development and high efficiency cogeneration / trigeneration case studies

• Grant number: 15/01038-7
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: April 01, 2016
• End date: March 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Thermal Engineering
• Agreement: FINEP - PIPE/PAPPE Grant
• Principal Investigator: Denilson Boschiero Do Espirito Santo
• Grantee: Denilson Boschiero Do Espirito Santo
• Company: Sisterm - Comércio e Instalação de Ar Condicionado Ltda. - ME
• City: Campinas
• Pesquisadores principais: Eugênio Fernandes Montalli

Abstract

Global warming is intended to be accentuated by greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. Electricity production in Brazil is mainly focused in hydroelectricity, but thermal plants are rising it participation in the electricity production mix, as an alternative to reduce the uncertainties associated with hydro power reservoir levels (dependent of rain) and/or to use Brazilian natural gas and coal reserves. The efficient use of fossil fuels are being studied in different countries as a technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, extend the life of existing fossil fuel reserves and/or reduce the import of fossil fuels. In Brazil the natural gas supply is expected to rise due to deep sea oil exploration. Cogeneration/trigeneration is intended to be an alternative of high efficiency thermal plants. The prime mover residual energy can be used and can promote primary energy savings, even when compared with the best available technology (BAT) of thermal plants. Cogeneration / trigeneration systems have been applied in hospitals, malls, airports, hotels, data centers, etc. Energy consumption in buildings varies as activity, climate and occupancy changes at the different day hours, weekdays and seasons. Cogeneration / trigeneration are being implemented based on (i) the company experience in others projects, (ii) electricity and fuel bills and (iii) existing equipment (steam generators, chillers, boilers, etc).The main researcher in this project is being involved with a software advance to develop high efficiency cogeneration / trigeneration systems since 2002. The methodology adopted in the software COGMCI can be simplified as: (i) the implementation of a data acquisition system to evaluate the building energy demands (electricity, hot water, steam and chilled water) in a one year period, (ii) data evaluation (mean profiles that represent energy demands variation in a one year period), (iii) definition of a cogeneration / trigeneration system to attend the building energy demands (configuration and engine power), (iv) cogeneration / trigeneration simulation using the software COGMCI and (v) results evaluation. The steps (iii), (iv) and (v) can be repeated until a high efficiency solution is achieved. The Project can be divided in two main parts: 1st) identify and implement ten data acquisition systems (energy demands) in buildings that have potential for the implementation of cogeneration / trigeneration systems. Energy demands data evaluation.2nd) continuity in the software development, including (i) new engineering sub-routines, (ii) improve existing routines, (ii) improve the Delphi interface, (iv) improve the output excel file, (v) improve the main algorithm, etc. The development of ten new case studies using the methodology here explained to identify high efficiency cogeneration / trigeneration soultions (places where the data acquisition systems were installed).Expected results: a) Technical e economical feasibility of high efficiency cogeneration / trigeneration systems. b) In phase III the company expects to find investors for the projects. c) Turn commercial the software COGMCI. d) The software can be used as: (i) a tool to turn projects feasible and/or (ii) for commercialization. e) The case studies will be published in journals. (AU)