The cogeneration, or the combined production of electric (and/or mechanical) and thermal energy, is a well established technology, which has important environmental benefits and it has been noted by the European Community as one of the first elements to save primary energy, to avoid network losses and to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. In particular, the study will be focused on the micro-cogeneration process with micro-combined heat and power system, or MCHP (electric power output ≤ 15 kW), which represents a valid and interesting application of this technology applicable, above all, to residential and light commercial users. This paper presents the Energy, Economic and Environmental (3-E) analysis of a natural gas-fired MCHP in combination with an electric heat pump (EHP). The 3-E analysis of the MCHP/EHP begins with the results of a detailed experimental activity developed in a test facility [1] for a wide range of conditions. Two operating conditions were simulated: a heating mode with co-production of electric and thermal energy, and a cooling mode with co-production of electric, thermal and cooling energy (tri-generation). The annual operating performance, also based on the typical features of the Italian market, is also discussed with a simplified approach.

Volume Subject Area:
Advanced Energy Systems
Keywords:
micro-cogeneration, HVAC system, MCHP, EHP, energy analysis
Topics:
Combined heat and power, Heat pumps, Cooling, Thermal energy, Electricity (Physics), Emissions, Heat, Heating, HVAC equipment, Power systems (Machinery), Test facilities
1.
Dentice d’Accadia
M.
,
Sasso
M.
,
Sibilio
S.
,
Vanoli
L.
,
2003
, “
Micro-combined heat and power in residential and light commercial applications
,”
Applied Thermal Engineering
,
23
, pp.
1247
–
1259
.
2.
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3.
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,
Gusdorf
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,
Swinton
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,
Bell
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,
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,
Kalbfleish
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,
Marchand
R.
,
2004
, “
Micro-cogeneration technology assessment for housing technology
”
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,
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, pp.
925
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4.
Dentice d’Accadia, M., Sasso, M., Sibilio, S., 2001, “Cogeneration for energy saving in household applications,” Energy Efficiency in Household Appliances and Lighting, P. Bertoldi et al., eds., Springer, Berlin, pp. 210–221.
5.
Sasso, M., Sibilio, S., Vanoli, L., 2003, “Energetic and environmental analysis of a domestic scale heat pump driven by a microcogenerator,” Proc., Eurotherm seminar no72: Thermodynamics heat and mass transfer of refrigeration machines and heat pumps, J. M. Corberan et al., eds., Valencia, pp. 167–172.
6.
Possidente, R., Roselli, C., Sasso, M., Sibilio S., 2004, “On Site Analysis Of A Gas Driven Microcogenerator Incorporating Heat Pump,” Proc., International Gas Research Conference 2004, Vancouver, Canada, p. 100.
7.
Miguez
J. L.
,
Murillo
S.
,
Porteiro
J.
,
Lopez
L. M.
,
2004
, “
Feasibility of a new domestic CHP trigeneration with heat pump: I. Design and development
,”
Applied Thermal Engineering
,
24
, pp.
1409
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1419
.
8.
Smith
M. A.
,
Few
P. C.
,
2001
, “
Second law analysis of an experimental domestic scale cogeneration plant incorporating a heat pump
,”
Applied Thermal Engineering
,
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9.
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10.
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