An Experimental Data-Driven Model of a Micro-Cogeneration Installation for Time-Domain Simulation and System Analysis

Wojciech Uchman, Janusz Kotowicz and Leszek Remiorz
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Wojciech Uchman: Department of Power Engineering and Turbomachinery, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 18, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Janusz Kotowicz: Department of Power Engineering and Turbomachinery, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 18, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Leszek Remiorz: Department of Power Engineering and Turbomachinery, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 18, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-26

Abstract: In this article, an investigation of a free-piston Stirling engine-based micro-cogeneration (μCHP) unit is presented. This work is a step towards making the system calculations more reliable, based on a data-driven model, which enables the time-domain simulation of the μCHP behavior. A laboratory setup was developed that allowed for the measurement of a micro-cogeneration unit during long-term operation with a variable thermal load. The maximum efficiency of electricity generation was equal to 13.2% and the highest overall efficiency was equal to 95.7%. A model of the analyzed μCHP system was developed and validated. The simulation model was based on the device’s characteristics that were obtained from the measurements; it enables time-domain calculations, taking into account the different operating modes of the device. The validation of the system showed satisfactory compliance of the model with the measurements: for the period modeled of 24 h, the error in the heat generation fluctuated in the range 0.31–4.50%, the error in the electricity generation was in the range 2.48–4.70%, the error in the natural gas consumption was in the range 0.26–4.59%, and the engine’s runtime error was in the range 0.14–8.58%. The modelling process is easily applicable to other energy systems for detailed analysis.

Keywords: micro-cogeneration; prosumer system; experiment; modeling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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