Abstract
Research and development on integrated energy systems such as cogeneration and trigeneration to improve the efficiency of thermal energy as well as fuel utilisation have been a key focus of attention by researchers. Total Site Utility Integration is an established methodology for the synergy and integration of utility recovery among multiple processes. However, Total Site Cooling, Heating and Power (TSCHP) integration methods involving trigeneration systems for industrial plants have been much less emphasised. This paper proposes a novel methodology for developing an insight-based numerical Pinch Analysis technique to simultaneously target the minimum cooling, heating and power requirements for a total site energy system. It enables the design of an integrated centralised trigeneration system involving several industrial sites generating the same utilities. The new method is called the Trigeneration System Cascade Analysis (TriGenSCA). The procedure for TriGenSCA involves data extraction, constructions of a Problem Table Algorithm (PTA), Multiple Utility Problem Table Algorithm (MU PTA), Total Site Problem Table Algorithm (TS PTA) and estimation of energy sources by a trigeneration system followed by construction of TriGenSCA, Trigeneration Storage Cascade Table (TriGenSCT) and construction of a Total Site Utility Distribution (TSUD) Table. The TriGenSCA tool is vital for users to determine the optimal size of utilities for generating power, heating and cooling in a trigeneration power plant. Based on the case study, the base fuel source for power, heating and cooling is nuclear energy with a demand load of 72 GWh/d supplied by 10.8 t of Uranium-235. Comparison between conventional PWR producing power, heating and cooling seperately, and trigeneration PWR system with and without integration have been made. The results prove that PWR as a trigeneration system is the most cost-effective, enabling 28% and 17% energy savings as compared to conventional PWR producing power, heating and cooling separately.
Highlights
Rapid industrialisation and rising global population contribute to the rapid depletion of energy resources, environmental pollution and climate change
Trigeneration System Cascade Analysis (TriGenSCA) is a new numerical method being developed in this paper to minimise power, heating and cooling targeting as well as to optimise sizing of the turbine, absorption chiller, cooling tower and steam generator
TSCHP integration method is an extension of Total Site Heat Integration (TSHI) which focuses on intra-processes of integrating heating, cooling and power for multiple sites
Summary
Rapid industrialisation and rising global population contribute to the rapid depletion of energy resources, environmental pollution and climate change. Has predicted increasing CO2 emissions from 0.15 × 1012 MWh in 2008 to 0.23 × 1012 MWh in as well as a rising crude oil price from 60 USD/barrel in 2011 to 120–140 USD/barrel from onwards. These challenges have become the key drivers to improve the energy efficiency of power plants. Implementation of integrated energy systems such as cogeneration and trigeneration systems as a centralised power plant can improve its energy efficiency by reuse of waste heat produced for other applications such as distillation process, district heating and cooling. Khamis et al [4] stated that an improvement in energy efficiency could translate into lower operating cost, reduced emissions and reduced usage of fossil fuels
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