Feasibility of using biogas in a micro turbine for supplying heating, cooling and electricity for a small rural building

Abstract

In this study, the use of a micro gas turbine system using biogas to supply heating, cooling and electricity loads of a rural building located in rural area around Tehran has been studied. Initially, the amount of energy needed by the farmhouse was calculated and then the number of needed microturbines was determined. Accordingly, the amount of substances entering biogas digester as well as tank volume were determined. The results of this study showed that village house loads including electrical, heating and cooling and hot water loads can be supplied by using a microturbine with a nominal power of 30 kW and 33.5 m3/day of biogas. Digester tank and reservoir tank volumes are 67 m3 and 31.2 m3, respectively. The cost of electricity produced by this system is 0.446 US$/kWh. For rural area in Iran, this system is not compatible with micro gas turbine and IC engine system use urban natural gas due to low price of natural gas in Iran, but it can be compatible by wind turbine, photovoltaic and hybrid system (wind turbine& photovoltaic) systems.