(11e) Screening CHP Configurations for Improved Performance and CO2 Reduction: Revisiting the R-Curves

R-curves (i.e. performance vs. Power-to-Heat ratio plots) have been traditionally employed to characterize different designs of combined heat and power (CHP) plants. Conventionally such graphs are built assuming too simplistic arrangements that do not take into account the economics associated to each case.

In the present work, the R-curves have been revisited to handle complex configurations that can represent real CHP plants (e.g. in petrochemical sites) more accurately. In addition, economic curves (E-curves) and CO2-curves have been also developed to evaluate the cost and emissions implications of different designs interacting with external utilities sources (e.g. a power plant).

The main applications of this approach include screening CHP configurations for grassroots projects (design), targeting the performance, emissions and cost of existing plants (retrofit), and can be adapted to comparatively evaluate what if scenarios (operations). In all cases, time and effort can be reduced through a systematic (guided) approach to identify promising alternatives in design, retrofit and operational cases.

Keywords: Power Heat Ratio, Cogeneration, Energy Efficiency, CO2 reduction, targeting