Parametric Study on Economic Feasibility of Microturbine Cogeneration Systems by an Optimization Approach

Abstract

Economic feasibility of microturbine cogeneration systems is investigated by analyzing relationships between the optimal number of microturbine units and the maximum energy demands under various conditions. For this purpose, a method to obtain the maximum energy demand at which the optimal number changes is proposed by combining a nonlinear equation problem and an optimal unit sizing problem hierarchically. Based on the proposed method, a map expressing the aforementioned relationships can be illustrated. Through numerical studies carried out on systems installed in hotels by changing the electrical generating efficiency and the capital unit cost of the microturbine cogeneration unit as parameters, the influence of the parameters on the economic feasibility of the microturbine cogeneration system is clarified.