Efficiency indicators in cogeneration schemes

Abstract

This work makes an analysis about technical and thermodynamics indicators in cogeneration schemes. With the recent crisis of energy supply in Brazilian market, cogeneration starts to play an excellent alternative for composition of energetic matrix of the country. One of the most important step in cogeneration analysis is the identification of technical and thermodynamic indicators, that establish a comparative frame between the possible arrangements proposed. Thus the objective is to show which is the more consistent parameter between the various possible indicators. An installation with a backpressure turbine is used for reference, because this is the more complicated one. Additional operational characteristics like variable power to heat ratio is inserted in the reference plant to validate the study in a more complex scenario. Keywords: cogeneration, fuel utilization factor, heat rate, artificial efficiency, fuel savings.