Design and build of a domestic scale micro-CHP for local application

Abstract

The Master research involved the analyses of three different CHP machines, each within their respective application. The first system covered was a micro-CHP (5.5kWe/11kWth) running on diesel and used to feed in electricity into the grid and supply thermal energy into a constant mass o± water within a calorifier. An existing medium scale CHP (49kWe/90kWth) running on LPG used to feed in electricity into the grid and supply thermal energy into a public pool, replacing a boiler, was analyzed and compared to a boiler system. Finally, a micro CHP was designed and constructed based on a research of domestic scale micro-CUP systems and their requirements and shortcomings. The constructed micro-CHP (1.5kWe/3kWth) runs on gasoline and is used to feed electricity into the grid and supply thermal energy for space heating through a water to air heat exchanger. Analysis and testing was performed for the main components of the constructed CHP unit, both as separate entities and as a whole unit. Through the testing performed, the efficiency of the constructed CHP was calculated, and areas of improvement identified. A market and economic analysis was performed, in order to identify the financial feasibility of such a system.