CHP INTEGRATION (OR IES): MAXIMIZING THE EFFICIENCY OF DISTRIBUTED GENERATION WITH WASTE HEAT RECOVERY D. T. Rizy, A. Zaltash, S. D. Labinov, A. Y. Petrov, E. A. Vineyard, R. L. Linkous Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Tennessee, USA Abstract A laboratory facility for testing combined cooling/heating and power (CHP) or more currently referred to as Integrated Energy Systems (IES) has been commissioned at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The scope of the facility is to test distributed generation (DG) with thermally-activated (TA) technologies for waste heat recovery. The designation of the IES Laboratory Facility as a “National User Facility” provides industry with greater access and control to various IES testing that can be conducted at the laboratory. The IES laboratory test facility is concluding the testing of a 30 kW microturbine generator (MTG) with a first generation heat recovery unit (HRU), direct and indirect- fired desiccant dehumidification systems and an indirect- fired 10-ton single-effect absorption chiller. The MTG has been operated individually to obtain its baseline performance characteristics as well as in combination with various waste heat recovery configurations to test an MTG-based IES. The dynamic and steady-state electrical, thermal, and emissions performance of the MTG has been measured over the power output range of 3 to 30 kW as well as during startup and shutdown. The heat recovery process has been found to reduce the energy efficiency and power output of the MTG slightly due to the increased backpressure on the MTG’s exhaust. However, the overall MTG-based IES system produces a 35-60% efficiency vs. the ~23% efficiency of the individual MTG. A number of key results have been produced by the laboratory and are leading to IES recommendations. Also, performance issues related to the MTG have been identified and are being addressed. Keywords Distributed Generation (DG); Cogeneration; Combined Cooling/Heating and Power (CHP); Waste Heat Recovery; Desiccant Dehumidification; Thermally- Activated Technologies. 1. Introduction The problems caused by deregulation of the electric energy market in the United States and other developed countries have created an important opportunity for distributed energy technologies [1]. In the report prepared in 2001 by the National Energy Policy Development Group, the concept of Combined Cooling, Heating and Power (CHP) or Integrated Energy Systems (IES) is identified as a strategy for addressing increased energy demands and peak power issues [2]. Recent developments in distributed generation (DG) technologies have opened new opportunities for relatively small-scale IES that can be used in commercial buildings. DG in combination with thermally-activated (TA) desiccant dehumidification and/or absorption cooling or heat recovery technologies, which use waste heat directly for heating purposes, provide a viable IES technology for buildings [1]. A laboratory for testing IES has been commissioned at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). During the summer, the IES Test Laboratory was formally designated as a National User Facility. The scope of the facility is to test DG with TA technologies for waste heat recovery. The objectives of the laboratory include: (1) Collect performance data on current DG and TA technologies both individually and operated as an integral part of an IES, (2) Develop models of the individual devices and based on integrated operation verify an IES model, (3) Rate the performance of current IES technologies, and (4) Develop testing protocols and rating standards for assessing current IES technologies. The goal is to increase the overall efficiency of DG systems by integrating them with waste heat recovery and TA technologies. These use the DG’s heat generated exhaust, a by-product of the power generation process, to produce heating/cooling or to regenerate desiccant material used by dehumidification systems. The recent designation of IES Laboratory Facility at ORNL as a “National User Facility” provides industry with greater