Electrochemical cell power generation systems for socially important facilities

Abstract

There is an estimation of application of power installations in a mode of trigeneration: with gas at the input, and with electric power, heat and cold at the output, functioning in an automatic mode, positive and negative sides of their use are considered. Cogeneration systems based on gas turbine with compression or absorption chillers, satisfying consumers in electric, heat and cooling energy in a building or a group of buildings, are considered. The use of trigeneration systems allows efficient utilization of heat for heating in winter and for air conditioning and process needs in summer, for example, use of cold for freezers in hospitals. At the same time, there is no reduction in efficiency throughout the year. The trigeneration technology is an excellent alternative to conventional power plants with a large amount of electrical energy and allows the use of absorption chillers in case of high cost or shortage of electricity. Such units consume less electricity compared to compressor units and require lower costs. At the same time, the use of absorption refrigeration machines (ARM) is totally justified when operating in the mode of a mini-CHP, which produces heat in winter (as cold is not needed or is needed only in small amounts), and in summer there is no need for it, but there is a need for cold. The payback period of such a system is relatively low, the net present value is high, and the profitability index is usually greater than one. Cold storage contributes to the economic viability of a trigeneration system. Since the payback period does not take into account the time factor of investment, the net present value or, better yet, the profitability index should be used. A trigeneration system consists of several units with different service lives and different investment results.