Abstract
Decentralised combined heat and power generation (CHP) offers a higly efficient and sustainable way for domestic and industrial energy supply. In contrast to electrical power generation by large scale power plants in the MW-range the waste heat of the electical power generation of Micro-CHP-Units can be used by the customer without extensive grid losses. Using the combined heat and power concept overall power plant efficiencies of up to 90 % for sub MW-range CHP-units are possible [1]. In recent CHP plants conventional piston gas engines are mostly used since these systems show a good electric efficiency paired with moderate investment costs. On the other hand cycles based on micro gas turbine (MGT) systems have the potential to play an important role in decentralised power generation. In small plants for distributed power generation the flexible application of different gaseous fuels (natural gas qualities, bio fuels and low calorific gases) is an important factor. Furthermore, the national standards for exhaust gas emission levels need to be met not only at the time of installation but also after years of operation. Here, compared to piston engines MGT systems have advantages regarding fuel flexibility, maintenance costs and exhaust gas emissions [2]. This gives the possibility to avoid the installation of a cost-intensive exhaust gas treatment. Due to higher exhaust gas temperatures MGTs are more suitable for the generation of process heat and cooling. Furthermore, MGTs can be operated in a wider range of fuel gas calorific value and they are less sensitive to the fuel gas composition. Beside the advantages MGT systems need to be optimised in terms of electric efficiency which is recently at ≈ 30% in natural gas operation.
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