FMGT 3620 Building systems 1

Co-Generation HW problem

Calculate the hourly savings to be realized from the on-site generation of 250 kw of electricity
with full use and value of the recovered heat.

Input fuel: Diesel (No. 2 oil) at. $2.95 per gallon

Efficiency: 27% of input fuel is converted to electricity
Heat recovery: 45% of input energy is recovered and utilized.

Purchased electricity: $ 0.25 / kWH

Value of the recovered energy (heat): The recovered energy replaces thermal energy generated
by a natural gas boiler with an efficiency of 77% and a gas cost of $1.25 per therm.
CO-GENERATION CALCULATIONS

Co-generation systems use one energy source for the primary function of the facility and then
use the waste energy (due to system inefficiencies) to run a secondary function. The savings are
generally from the avoided costs of buying energy for the secondary function.

1. Use the power generated in KW multiplied by the time period of the energy comparison
i.e. 1 hour or 12 hours or 24 hours to get KW-hrs.

2. Convert this to BTU’s by multiplying by 3412 BTU/ kw-hr

3. Divide this value by the efficiency of the generator system to determine the input
energy in BTU’s

4. Now, use the heat recovery percentage to determine the portion of the input energy
that is recovered heat.

5. Divide the amount of recovered heat by the efficiency of the heating boiler to
determine the amount of avoided energy in BTU’s. Convert this to therms.

6. Calculate the cost of running the facility for electricity and heat without the co-gen
system. Use the fuel rate and electricity rates given.

7. Calculate the cost of. Running the co-gen system.

8. Calculate the savings by taking the difference between the costs of not having the co-
gen system and the cost of co-gen.

Example:

Calculate the hourly savings to be realized from the on-site generation of 400 KW of electricity
with use (and value) of the recovered heat.

Input fuel: #2 oil at $4.00 per gallon

Efficiency: 30% of input fuel is converted to electricity
Heat recovery: 50% of input energy is recovered and utilized

Purchased electricity: $0.24/ kWH

Value of the recovered

energy (heat): The recovered energy replaced thermal energy generated by a natural
gas boiler with an efficiency of 80% and a gas cost of $1.60 per therm.
SOLUTION:

1. One hour of 400kw power delivers 400 KWHW

400kWH = 400 kWH X 3412 BTU/kWH = 1,364,800 BTU of equivalent Output

2. Find the input energy, by using the engineer efficiency of 27% (given)

3. Use the input energy to determine the recovered heat, 45% of input

454933 x 0.50 = 2,274,667 BTU recovered heat

4. Use the efficiency of the gas boiler to determine the energy use avoided

2,274667 = 2,843,333 BTU gas fuel

.80

= 2,843,333 = 28.4 therms of fuel use avoided

100,000

5. Calculate the hourly cost without the co-generation system.

This is the hourly cost of 250 kWh of electricity plus the 14.2 therms of gas for the boiler.

400 kWH X $0.24 / kWH = $ 96.00

28.4 therms X $ 1.60 / therm = $45.44

Total = $96.00 + $45.44= $141.44

6. Calculate the cost of running the co-generation systems per hour

Fuel Input, BTU divided by the BTU/ Gal for No. 2 oil gives gallons used

4,549,333 BTU/ 138,690 (BTU/Gal) = 32.8 gallons

Gallons of oil used times the cost per gallon gives the cost of running the co-gen system.

32.8 gal. X $4.00 / gal. = $131.20

7: Calculate the savings per hour

Savings = cost w/o co-gen – cost w/ co-gen

Savings = $ 141.44 - $131.20 = $10.24 per hour