Title: Engineering and economic analysis of diurnal thermal energy storage for cogeneration applications

Authors: S. Somasundaram, Daryl R. Brown, M. Kevin Drost

Addresses: Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Battelle Boulevard, PO Box 999, Richland, Washington 99352, USA. ' Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Battelle Boulevard, PO Box 999, Richland, Washington 99352, USA. ' Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Battelle Boulevard, PO Box 999, Richland, Washington 99352, USA

Abstract: Thermal energy storage can help cogeneration meet the challenges of the 1990s by increasing the flexibility and performance of cogeneration facilities. Thermal energy storage also allows a cogeneration facility to provide dispatchable electric power while providing a constant thermal load. The first of two studies reported here focused on the relative performance and economic benefits of incorporating a diurnal thermal energy storage (TES) system with a simple-cycle gas turbine cogeneration system to produce dispatchable power during peak- and/or intermediate-demand periods. The results show that the oil/rock storage system for TES was the most attractive option for the assumed thermal load quality. The second study evaluated the cost of power produced by a combined-cycle cogeneration plant integrated with thermal energy storage (CC/TES/Cogen). The results indicate relatively poor economic prospects for integrating TES with a combined-cycle cogeneration power plant. However, system design optimization and reductions in storage media costs might improve the economics, perhaps enough to make the CC/TES/Cogen an attractive option for incremental peak power production. In addition to the economic considerations, environmental factors due to the use of thermal energy storage with conventional cogeneration systems are also reported.

Keywords: cogeneration; combined cycle; diurnal storage; economic analysis; environmental impact; thermal energy storage; combined heat and power; CHP.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.1995.063476

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 1995 Vol.7 No.3/4, pp.107-121

Published online: 15 Jul 2014 *

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