Assessment of micro-cogeneration potential for domestic trigeneration

Cogeneration is worldwide considered as the major option to achieve considerable energy saving with respect to traditional systems. This paper deals with the application of micro-cogeneration, Micro-Combined Heat and Power (MCHP) (electrical power <15 kW) to small-scale (residential application) users for the assessment of its use in trigeneration; the state of art of this technology is considered, a test facility designed and built to evaluate the performances of MCHP-Electric Heat Pump (EHP) system itself is described and the Energetic, Economic and Environmental (3-E) analysis in some operation mode to match the users loads is proposed.

Keywords: micro cogeneration, internal combustion, experimental tests, MCHP, micro combined heat and power, CHP, electric heat pumps, EHP, energetic analysis, environmental analysis, economic analysis, environmental technology, residential applications