Decentralized Poly-generation of Energy:

Basic Concepts

Nicolae Badea

Abstract This chapter presents the basic concepts for primary energy forms,
energy conversion, delivered energy, and energy needed by consumers to satisfy
their needs (useful energy). The conversion of primary energy into useful energy is
evaluated on the basis of the energy efficiency factor for separate energy generation,
cogeneration, and trigeneration. The difference between the primary energy in the
case of separate production and the primary energy in the case of combined pro-
duction represents the primary energy corresponding to the saved fuel. The energy
saving measure is achieved through the primary energy savings (PES) or percent
fuel savings. Finally, a trigeneration energy conversion is exemplified and the
performance indicators of the system are given.

1 Energy

Matter is characterized through two fundamental measures: mass and energy. Mass
is the measure of inertia and gravity, and energy is the scalar measure of matter
movement. The energy modification of a physical system is known as mechanical
work. Mechanical work appears when the state of physical system is modified as
result of a transformation, and the latter implies the modification of the system’s
energy.
Polygeneration describes an integrated process which has three or more outputs
that include energy outputs, produced from one or more natural resources.

N. Badea (&)
“Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, Galati, Romania
e-mail: nicolae.badea@ugal.ro

© Springer-Verlag London 2015 33

N. Badea (ed.), Design for Micro-Combined Cooling, Heating and Power Systems,
Green Energy and Technology, DOI 10.1007/978-1-4471-6254-4_2
34 N. Badea

1.1 Forms of Energy

There are several forms of energy, the most frequent of which being:
• chemical;
• thermal;
• electrical;
• electromagnetic;
• nuclear.
Chemical energy is stored in the atomic links which form the molecules. When
different chemical compounds react among themselves, these links are broken or
modified, frequently generating or absorbing energy under the form of heat. At the
micro level, the energy of fossil sources of energy (coal, petroleum, natural gases,
wood etc.) may be considered as potential energy of atomic links which change in
the burning of fuel, thus generating energy. When wood burns, the carbon con-
tained by the wooden mass reacts with the oxygen in the air. Through burning, a
new chemical product is obtained (the atomic links are modified)—carbon dioxide,
CO2—and energy, under the form of heat and light (radiation), is released simul-
taneously. Another example may be considered, the cell of an electric accumulator
or the combustion cell, where various chemical products react among themselves,
producing electric energy and other chemical products.
Thermal energy is the sum of the kinetic and potential energies of all the atoms
and molecules which form a certain solid, liquid, or gaseous body. Thermal energy
includes both kinetic energy (since atoms and molecules move) and potential
energy (since, as a result of the movement of atoms and molecules—oscillatory
movement—the linking forces modify, which results in the modification of the
potential energy of each atom and molecule forming the respective body). The
greater the movement speed of atoms and molecules, the greater the temperature of
the body and vice versa. In a boiler, the chemical energy of fossil fuels is trans-
mitted to the steam under the form of thermal energy which, in turn, transmits it to
the turbine.
Electrical energy is the kinetic energy of a flux of particles with an electric
charge (called electrons and ions), which move inside an electric field. The
movement of particles is produced by the force of the electric field. In metals, the
charge bearers are the electrons, and in gases and liquids the main charge bearers
are the positive and negative ions. Once the electric charge bearers move, it means
that they have kinetic energy.
Electromagnetic energy manifests itself under the form of electromagnetic
waves, having different values for the wave length, starting with radio waves and
ending with X-rays. A particular example of electromagnetic energy is solar energy,
which takes the form of an electromagnetic wave spectrum, of different wave
length. On the other hand, the electromagnetic wave has particle properties, moving
at the speed of light. That is why, essentially, electromagnetic energy is kinetic
energy—which indicates the movement of particles without substance transport.
Decentralized Poly-generation of Energy: Basic Concepts 35

Nuclear energy is the energy obtained following the fission reaction of the
atom’s nucleus, for instance uranium-235 or plutonium-239. The fission of a
nucleus means its splitting into several fragments. The difference between the mass
of the initial nucleus and the sum of the fragment masses is found in the kinetic
energy that these fragments acquire. In the nuclear reactor, this energy is trans-
formed into thermal energy. In the process of nuclear fission, only 0.1 % of the
atom’s total energy is emitted, the rest of 99.9 % remaining stored in the mass of
the newly created fragments. But this quantity is millions of times larger than that
obtained following the oxidation (burning) reaction of a fossil fuel (coal, for
instance), where the chemical energy (that is the energy of the atomic and molecular
links) is transformed into thermal energy.

1.2 Energy Units

The consumer is interested in being delivered energy to satisfy his needs, such as
the heating and lighting of the residence. For him, essential are the quantity of
delivered energy, the form in which it is delivered, and the amount due. The basic
forms of delivered energy are heat and power. Afterward, the energy delivered is
converted, transformed, or transmitted to other bodies, the result being called useful
energy. For example, the heat is transmitted to the radiator in the room, for its
heating, and the electricity is converted into light energy, for lighting the house
area. These energies are derived from primary energy supplied fuel. Figure 1
exemplifies the three notions regarding energy: primary energy (obtained from
natural gas, in a thermal station), delivered energy (by the electric energy distributor),
and useful energy (necessary for the consumer).
The energy units have been defined either in keeping with the useful energy, or
in keeping with the primary energy of the energy source.
(a) When the energy units are defined in keeping with the useful energy, the
following cases occur:
• If the useful energy is electrical, its unit is the kilowatt-hour (kWh)
• If the useful energy is mechanical, its unit is the Joule (J).

Primary Delivered Useful

energy energy energy

Fig. 1 Primary, delivered, and useful energy

36 N. Badea

• If it is thermal, the calorie is used additionally. A calorie (cal) is the quantity of

energy necessary to raise the temperature of a gram of pure water by a Celsius
degree, or the quantity of energy lost by a gram of pure water, in which case
temperature decreases by a Celsius degree. The conversion is 1 cal = 4,184 J.
On the other hand, in many areas of the Anglo-Saxon world, especially in the
United States, the temperature scale used is that of Fahrenheit (°F). The melting
temperature of pure frozen water at sea level is of 32 °F, and the boiling point of
pure liquid water is of 212 °F. Thus, 32 °F corresponds to 0 °C and 212 °F cor-
responds to 100 °C. As a result, 1 °C = (5/9)(F − 32) °F or 1 °F = (1.8–32 °C) °C.
In the same areas, the BTU (British thermal unit) is used to measure thermal
energy. A BTU is the energy necessary to raise the temperature of a lb of pure
liquid water by a degree Fahrenheit. The conversion is 1 BTU = 1055 J. The energy
transfer rate (the power) is defined as 1 BTU/h = 0.293 W. If the useful energy is
electric, its unit is Wh. The conversion is 1 Wh = 3600 J.
(b) If the energy units are defined in keeping with the primary energy of the
source, they depend on the calorific power of the fuel used as reference. Thus, if it is
petroleum, the unit is the petroleum equivalent kg, whose symbol is kg oe.
Changing the nature of the reference fuel changes the energy unit. For example, kg
is used for coal and m3 gas equivalent is used for pit gas. Table 1 presents the
conversion factors for energy units in different systems of measurement.

1.3 Energy Conversion

One of the fundamental laws of physics is the law of energy conservation, according
to which, in physical processes, energy cannot be created or destroyed, increased or

Table 1 Conversion factors for energy

Units kJ kcal kWh kg ce kg oe m3 gas BTU
1 kilojoule (kJ) 1 0.2388 0.000278 0.000034 0.000024 0.000032 0.94781
1 kilocalorie 4.1868 1 0.001163 0.000143 0.0001 0.00013 3.96831
(kcal)
1 kilowatt-hour 3,600 860 1 0.123 0.086 0.113 3412
(kWh)
1 kg coal 29,308 7,000 8.14 1 0.7 0.923 27,779
equivalent (kg ce)
1 kg oil 41,868 10,000 11.63 1.428 1 1.319 39,683
equivalent (kg oe)
1 m3 natural gas 31,736 7,580 8.816 1.083 0.758 1 30,080
1 British thermal 1.0551 0.252 0.000293 0.000036 0.000025 0.000033 1
unit (BTU)
Decentralized Poly-generation of Energy: Basic Concepts 37

decreased, but only transformed (converted) from one form of energy into another.
The most common energy conversion processes are presented in Fig. 2.
The few possibilities of direct conversion of energy from one form to another are
shown on Table 2 and Figure 2
According to energy conservation law, a system’s total quantity of energy
remains constant and is called the primary energy of that system. The elements that
the primary energy of a system is stored in are called sources of energy.
Quantitatively, the primary energy of a system represents the sum of the
quantities of energy contained in all its sources of energy.
• Today, the main sources of energy are:
• fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, and natural gases);
• bio fuels (firewood, wood residue, agricultural residue etc.);
• renewable as hydraulic, geothermal, solar, wind energy;
• nuclear energy.
In the case of fuels (whether fossil or bio), primary energy is obtained through
burning and is evaluated by multiplying the quantity of burned fuel by its calorific
power. Numerically, the calorific power of a fuel is the energy resulting from
burning a unitary quantity of fuel (for example, a kg—if the fuel is solid or liquid,
or an m3—if it is gaseous).
The great majority of fuels contain water which, in the burning process, is
released under the form of vapors. That is why, in the burning process, part of the
energy resulting from the chemical reactions is used to evaporate the water. Con-
sequently, the primary energy which is converted into heat during the burning of the
fuel cannot be measured directly; it can only be evaluated, and the evaluation is
done relative to the reference state of the water in the fuel.

Fusion
Steam Turbine
Electrolysis Lighting
Photosynthesis
Electric Joule
Motor Effect

Nuclear Chemical Mechanical Electricity Heat Light

Energy Energy Energy Energy Energy

Generator Thermo-
Cells, batteries couple
Combustion
Compression
Chemical Reactions

Fig. 2 Conversion processes

 38

Table 2 A few possibilities of direct conversion of energy

Energy type In chemical In heat In electricity In electromagnetic In mechanical
From chemical Plants food Burning anaerobic Battery fuel cell Fluorescence lamp Human muscle and
products fermentation animals
From heat Pyrolytic Heat pump heat Thermocouple Fire Gas turbine steam
gasification exchanger turbine
From electricity Battery Hob toaster flat iron Transformer frequency Fluorescent bulb light Electric motor
electrifier converter emitting diode electromagnet
From Photosynthesis Solar collector Photovoltaic cell Laser Solar radiation
electromagnetic pressure
From mechanical Crystallization Brake friction Generator Flint Propeller wind Volant
N. Badea
Decentralized Poly-generation of Energy: Basic Concepts 39

Table 3 Heating values of fuels

Units LHV HHV LHV/HHV
Natural gas BTU/CubicFoot 950 1,050 0.905
Fuel oil BTU/Gallon 130,000 138,300 0.940
Propane BTU/Gallon 84,650 92,000 0.920
Sewage/landfill BTU/CubicFoot 350 380 0.921
Coal-bituminous BTU/lbs 13,600 14,100 0.965

Standardized reference states may vary, and that is why several calorific powers
of the same fuel have been defined. The most commonly used are the Lower
Heating Value (LHV) and the Higher Heating Value (HHV) shown in Table 3.
For the inferior calorific power, the reference state of the water is the gaseous
one, and for the superior calorific power, the reference state is the liquid one. For
this reason, the inferior calorific power decreases with the increase in the water
content (ignoring the fact that a large content of water implies a smaller content of
combustive substances). (3) In practice, to be able to light the fuel and extract its
energy, the maximum content of water is of 55 % (of the humid mass).

2 The Concept of Cogeneration

Today’s energy supply system is still dominated by central generation connected to

the high voltage level. Cogeneration is the combined production of two forms of
energy—electric or mechanical power plus useful thermal energy—in one tech-
nological process. The electric power produced by a cogenerator can be used on-
site or distributed through the utility grid, or both. The thermal energy usually is
used on-site for space conditioning, and/or hot water. But, if the cogeneration
system produces more useful thermal energy than is needed on-site, distribution of
the excess to nearby facilities can substantially improve the cogeneration’s eco-
nomics and energy efficiency. Cogeneration is an old and proven practice. Because
cogenerations produce two forms of energy in one process, they will provide
substantial energy savings relative to conventional separate electric and thermal
energy technologies. The principal technical advantage of cogeneration systems is
their ability to improve the efficiency of fuel use. A cogeneration facility, in pro-
ducing both electric and thermal energy, usually consumes more fuel than is
required to produce either form of energy alone. However, the total fuel required to
produce both electric and thermal energy in a cogeneration system is less than the
total fuel required to produce the same amount of power and heat in separate
systems. Hence, cogeneration is most likely to be competitive with conventional
separate electric and thermal energy technologies when it can use relatively inex-
pensive, plentiful fuels.
Cogeneration unit in turn, can be large-scale centralized near big cities and small
or medium scale nears the final consumer.
40 N. Badea

2.1 Centralized Versus Distributed Energy Generation

The importance of the cogeneration system is showing in 2012/27 EC Directive

EED in which the MS for 2014 by National Energy Efficiency Action Plan must
provide a description of measures, strategies, and policies, including programs and
plans, at national, regional, and local levels to develop the economic potential of
high-efficiency cogeneration and efficient district heating and cooling and other
efficient heating and cooling systems as well as the use of heating and cooling from
waste heat and renewable energy sources, including measures to develop the heat
markets (EED Article 14(2), Article 14(4), Annex VIII 1(g)). In this, programs and
plans include number of new micro-CHP and small-scale CHP installed and
number of other new efficient heating systems and trends in their market uptake,
(e.g., heat-pumps efficient boilers, solar equipment and), new or as replacement of
old systems installed either as new installations or as replacement for old systems.
In the Energy Efficiency Directive are given two types of energies, namely:
• “Primary energy consumption” means gross inland consumption, excluding
nonenergy uses (Article 2.2)
• “Final energy consumption” means all energy supplied to industry, transport,
households, services, and agriculture. It excludes deliveries to the energy
transformation sector and the energy industries themselves (Article 2.3).
The conversion of primary energy into useful energy (or final energy con-
sumption) is evaluated on the basis of the efficiency factor EFF, defined as a
percentage ratio between the useful energy and the primary energy.

EFF ¼ ðEu=EpÞ100 % ð1Þ

where
• Eu is the useful energy and
• Ep is the primary energy.
Energy efficiency has a major role to play in economically, environmentally, and
socially sustainable energy policies. Energy efficiency can play a vital role in
reducing the energy intensity of economic activity and avoiding the need for sig-
nificant new supply. Energy savings are among the fastest, highest impacting and
most cost-effective ways of reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. Over the
years, the European Union has introduced a number of directives, regulations, and
initiatives to encourage and support Member States, regional authorities, individ-
uals, and so on to increase energy efficiency in the different sectors, including
buildings, transport, and products. The span of policies, have yet to change our
combined thinking, capacity, and ambition to capture significant savings. Although
everyone agrees with the importance of saving energy, it has enjoyed little high
level political attention and as such we are a long way from achieving the indicative
20 % energy savings target by 2020.
Decentralized Poly-generation of Energy: Basic Concepts 41

Energy saving means producing a larger quantity of material goods and offering
a larger number of services, consuming a smaller quantity of primary energetic
resources, to obtain useful energy, that is to increase the efficiency factor EFF.
Different terms are used, often with little precision or accuracy, to express targets
in the area of energy efficiency policy. The definitions provided in the Energy
Efficiency Directive establish a clear relation between “energy savings” and
“energy efficiency”.
The following definitions from Article 2 of the EED are worth recalling here as
they are relevant:
• “Energy efficiency” means the ratio of output of performance, service, goods, or
energy to input of energy (Article 2.4).
• “Energy savings” means an amount of saved energy determined by measuring
and/or estimating consumption before and after implementation of an energy
efficiency improvement measure, whilst ensuring normalization for external
conditions that affect energy consumption (Article 2.5).
Specifically, energy savings are defined as the result of improvements of energy
efficiency. Savings are measured as the difference in energy consumption before
and after the efficiency improvement has taken place.
For years, the model of the electric energy industry development has been based
on the idea that energy must be produced in a centralized way, in large electric
plants, then delivered to the large consumption areas through electric transport lines
and, finally, delivered to the consumers through the distribution infrastructure, at
the lowest voltage levels. Thus, energy circulates in a unidirectional way, from high
voltage to low voltage. This situation is indicated in Fig. 3a.

(a) (b)
Import/ Import/
Export Export

Centralized Transport Centralized Transport

production 400kV&150kV 400kV&150kV
production

Distribution Small scale Distribution

60kV production 60kV

Consumers Micro-units Consumers

Fig. 3 Models of energy generation

42 N. Badea

In the first case, the cogeneration unit operates with high efficiency in winter
when electricity production is injected into the grid and heat distribution is done to
final consumers. Efficiency during the warm season, of the centralized cogeneration
units is low, same as power separate systems, because the heat production is not
used.
A very important role in the conversion of primary energy into useful energy is
played by the capacity of each component of conversion, transformation, and the
distribution. For example, the conversion of fuel primary energy into electric
energy, in a thermal station, is achieved with an efficiency of maximum 35 %. The
electric energy produced by the station is transported along the energy distribution
line and reaches the consumer as delivered energy, with an efficiency of 85 %.
Then, the consumer uses it to supply various devices, becoming useful energy. For
example, the consumer converts electric energy into useful energy under the form
of light, with an efficiency of 5 %—in the case of using an incandescent light bulb,
of 20 %—in the case of using a fluorescent light bulb, or converts it into mechanical
energy, with the aid of an electric engine, with an efficiency of 90 %.
In its turn, the efficiency factor is dependent on the efficiency of converting the
energy into different component elements of the chain of energy production, dis-
tribution, and use.
Increasing the energy efficiency factor may be achieved in two different ways:
1. by reducing the energy losses, as a result of increasing the energy conversion
efficiency in each component element of the chain of converting primary energy
into useful energy;
2. by recuperating the energy losses in the component elements of the chain of
converting primary energy into useful energy and transforming these losses into
useful energy.
The first applies to systems of separate heat and power generation (SHP sys-
tems), where the effort is concentrated on achieving efficient systems (technologies)
of energy conversion. This may be achieved in the case of centralized generation, as
indicated in Fig. 3a.
The second implies modifying the management of primary energies and their
conversion into useful energy. This may be achieved in the case of distributed
generation, as indicated in Fig. 3b.
Decentralized power generation combined with heat supply (CHP) is an
important technology for improving energy efficiency, security of energy supply,
and reduction of CO2 emissions. The need to introduce several “environment
friendly” installations (like microturbines, fuel cells, photoelectric installations,
small wind turbines, and other advanced technologies for distributed generation)
have determined an increase in the interest for distributed generation, particularly
for local (“on-site”) generation. Introducing environment friendly installations
implies the implementation of two concepts: distributed energy resources (DER)
and renewable energy sources (RES). In fact, the DER concept encompasses three
main aspects, whose focus is set on the electrical standpoint:
Decentralized Poly-generation of Energy: Basic Concepts 43

• Distributed generation (DG) that is local energy production from various types
of sources [1–5]. Distributed generation has emerged as a key option for pro-
moting energy efficiency and use of renewable sources as an alternative to the
traditional generation.
• Demand response (DR) that is energy saving brought by the customer partici-
pation to specific programs for reducing the peak power or the energy con-
sumption [6–9]. Demand response (DR implies not only satisfying the
consumer’s electric energy demand, but ensuring any form of energy demanded
by the consumer (heat, air conditioning, etc.) also, at any moment, and in the
specific quantities necessary to the consumer.
• Distributed storage (DS) local energy storage with different types of devices
[10–13].
In the case of a residence, implementing the DER concept [14] consists in
achieving the system for energy production on the basis of the convenient asso-
ciation of three key ideas:
• combined production of heat and power, from the same fuel, in the same system,
resulting in a so-called Combined Heat and Power system (CHP system);
• the simultaneous use of more sources of energy (fossil fuel, sun, wind, geo-
thermal sources, etc.) and their integration in a system;
• placing the cogeneration installations as close to the final consumer as possible
and dimensioning them so that they may offer the amount of heat and electricity
necessary for the consumer, resulting in a local system for producing electric
and thermal energy, in the specific quantities necessary to satisfy the useful
energy needs of each consumer at any given moment in time (Fig. 4);
• smart metering, with bidirectional way of energy in low voltage to create smart
grid concept.

Fig. 4 Energy system for residences, based on the DER concept [15]
44 N. Badea

Usually, distributed generation uses low power generation units situated with the
consumer or in his proximity. These units are installed so as to cover all of the
consumer’s needs, to ensure an economical functioning of the electric distribution
grid, or to satisfy both conditions. Distributed generation complements the tradi-
tional centralized generation and distribution of electric energy. It ensures a
favorable answer (as regards the cost of capital) to the increase in the energy
demand, avoids the installation of supplementary transport and distribution
capacities, localizes the generation of electric energy where it is necessary and has
the flexibility of delivering it to the grid in the consumer’s proximity.
Technological developments, the progressive rise of distributed generation, and
the increasing need to manage the system close to consumption points all require a
shift towards a more decentralized electricity system. Therefore, decentralized and
centralized generation can coexist; smart grid development will enhance their
complementarities. In this transition, a new figure appeared: the “prosumer”, pro-
ducing and consuming his/her own electricity. By covering on-site part of the final
user’s electricity needs, PV systems will generate new opportunities. Such decen-
tralized electricity generation will have to be better incorporated in future strategies.
Small-scale power producers are also giving rise to new ownership structures
and business models, some of which directly compete with conventional utilities.
“More than 3 million households have started producing their own electricity with
solar PV”, says Eurelectric, while 133 “bio-villages” have emerged in Germany
since 2000, generating more than 50 % of their electricity and heat from bioenergy
resources.
In Italy, at the end of 2011, PV [16] already covered 5 % of the electricity
demand, and more than 10 % of the peak demand. In Bavaria, a federal state in
southern Germany, the PV installed capacity amounts to 600 W per inhabitant, or
three panels per capita. In around 15 regions in the EU, PV covers on a yearly basis
close to 10 % of the electricity demand; in Extremadura, a region of Spain, this
amount to more than 18 %.
Market trends across Europe indicate that liberalization is bearing fruit, with
wholesale markets becoming more competitive and customers increasingly bene-
fiting from new types of products and energy-related services.
Customers use today, an ever larger number of electronic appliances (TV,
computers, tablets, smart phones), heating systems (thermostats, air conditioning,
heat pumps), green goods (washing and drying machines, dishwashers, ovens,
refrigerators), for reasons linked to comfort, entertainment, environment, and
security. This increase of appliances in and around the home combined with the
progressive introduction of new loads such as heat pumps and electric vehicles is
likely to cause electricity demand from households to rise. At the same time, new
technologies such as micro-CHP and solar photovoltaic have made power generation
at household level a real economic possibility. Customers with such installations no
longer only consume energy, but produce electricity as well. This is the way cus-
tomers will more and more benefit from new services, be able to save on their energy
bill and potentially become electricity producers themselves. But these develop-
ments also pose new challenges to the electricity industry, which has to cope with a
Decentralized Poly-generation of Energy: Basic Concepts 45

higher share of variable and decentralized generation, in which customers will

progressively move to the center of the electricity system.
Competitiveness of the new technologies can be analyzed from three points of
view:
• “Wholesale competitiveness”, which compares PV’s generation cost (the
Levelised Cost of Electricity, or LCOE) with wholesale electricity prices,
requires examining much more complex boundary conditions (such as market
design);
• “Dynamic grid parity”, when comparing PV’s LCOE with PV revenues (earn-
ings and savings);
• “generation value competitiveness”, when comparing PV’s generation cost to
that of other electricity sources.
A meaning of these terms is as follows:
“Dynamic grid parity” is defined as the moment at which, in a particular market
segment in a specific country, the present value of the long-term net earnings
(considering revenues, savings, cost, and depreciation) of the electricity supply
from a PV installation is equal to the long-term cost of receiving traditionally
produced and supplied power over the grid.
“Generation value competitiveness” is defined as the moment at which, in a
specific country, adding PV to the generation portfolio becomes equally attractive
from an investor’s point of view to investing in a traditional and normally fossil fuel
based technology.
“Wholesale competitiveness” is defined as the moment at which—in a particular
segment in a country—the present value of the long-term cost of installing,
financing, operating, and maintaining a PV system becomes lower than the price of
electricity on the wholesale market.
Competitiveness of the PV is analyzed in EPIA study [15] for the residential,
commercial, and industrial segments—involving the local consumption of PV
electricity, when a user goes from being a consumer to a “prosumer” as “dynamic
grid parity”, when comparing PV’s generation cost (the Levelised Cost of Elec-
tricity, or LCOE) with PV revenues (earnings and savings).
In the future, decentralized electrical generation units (DG units) of small size
will be connected to the low voltage grid with an increasing number and generation
capacity. With a rapidly increasing number of DG units, also the rated power
installed increases. In the future, the consumer (operator of DG unit) will decide at
which time and at which level electric power is fed into the grid.
Cogeneration (CHP) solutions can exhibit excellent overall energy efficiency and
allow for significant primary energy saving with respect to the separate production
of heat and electricity. As a consequence of the primary energy saving, CHP
systems can also be an effective means to pursue the objectives of the Kyoto’s
Protocol in terms of greenhouse gas emission reduction
46 N. Badea

Heating power 15
Losses 67
Fuel 100
Fuel 18

Losses 3

Fig. 5 Energetic balance of separate energy production

2.2 Performance Indicators of Cogeneration Systems

To define the performance indicators of cogeneration systems, let us firstly analyze

the energetic efficiency in the case of the separate production of heat and power
(Fig. 5).
Heat may be produced with the aid of a boiler, through the transformation of the
primary energy of a fuel (chemical energy) into thermal energy useful to the
consumer. Boilers (both condensing and noncondensing) are by far the most widely
adopted technology for separate production (i.e., excluding district heating) of
space heating and domestic hot water heating.
The efficiency of transforming fuel energy into heat (EFFH) can be defined by
means of the First Law of Thermodynamics as the net energy output (QH) divided
by the fuel consumed (QF) in terms of kWh thermal energy content.

QH
EFFH ¼ ð2Þ
QF

The efficiency of transforming fuel energy into heat is dependent on the type of
fuel used and the performance of the burning chamber. If the boiler uses pit gas, the
standard efficiency is of 85 %, and if it uses biomass, the efficiency is considered to
be of 65 %, assuming that the heat of condensation cannot be recovered (Fig. 5).
Power is generated through the multiple transformation of energy: the primary
energy of a fuel (chemical energy) is transformed into thermal energy (QH) which,
in turn, is transformed into mechanical energy (WM), to be then transformed into
electric energy (E). The efficiency of electric energy generation (EFFP) is defined by
the relation:

E QH WM E
EFFP ¼ ¼ ð3Þ
QF QF QH WM
Decentralized Poly-generation of Energy: Basic Concepts 47

Its value is much lower (of approximately 33 %) than that of the efficiency of
thermal energy generation.
On the other hand, according to the Directive 2012/27/EC, the overall efficiency
shall mean the annual sum of electricity and mechanical energy production and
useful heat output divided by the fuel input used for heat and electricity and
mechanical energy, produced in a cogeneration process (for heat produced in a
cogeneration process and gross electricity and mechanical energy production,
produced in a cogeneration process).
In the case of energy generation with a SHP system (Fig. 5), the overall effi-
ciency (EFFSHP) is defined as the sum of net power (E) and useful thermal energy
output (QH) divided by the sum of fuel consumed to produce each and may be
calculated with the relation:

E þ QH
EFFSHP ¼ ð4Þ
E
þ EFF
EFFP
QH
H

where: E = Net power output from the SHP system; QH = Net useful thermal energy
from the SHP system; EFFP = Efficiency of electric generation; EFFH = Efficiency
of thermal generation.

2.2.1 Energy Efficiency

In the case of cogeneration in a CHP system, the overall efficiency (EFFCHP) is

defined as the sum of the net power (E) and net useful thermal output (QH) divided
by the total fuel (QF) consumed, in terms of kWh thermal energy content, and may
be calculated with the relation:

E þ QH
EFFCHP ¼ ð5Þ
QF

What may be observed is that, as compared to a SHP system, the energetic

efficiency of a CHP system is greater, as a result of recuperating the lost energy and
transforming it into useful energy. For example, let us consider the situation pre-
sented in Fig. 6, where the consumer needs 33 units of electric energy and 15 units
of thermal energy. In the case of a SHP system, 118 units of primary energy are
needed, while only 100 units are needed if the cogeneration is implemented in a
CHP system.
It results that the effect of recuperating energy losses using the concept of
cogeneration is the increase in overall efficiency. To evaluate this effect, two
indicators are used: fuel utilization efficiency and percent fuel savings.
48 N. Badea

SHP

CHP
100
33
100
18 15

Fig. 6 Energy balance of separate vs. combined production

2.2.2 Fuel Utilization Efficiency

Fuel utilization efficiency (FUE) is defined as the ratio of net power output to net
fuel consumption, where net fuel consumption excludes the portion of fuel used for
producing useful heat output. Fuel used to produce useful heat is calculated
assuming that the typical boiler efficiency, EFFH, is 85 %. FUE can be calculated
with the relationship:

E
FUE ¼ ð6Þ
QF  EFF
QH
H

The difference between the primary energy in the case of separate production
and the primary energy in the case of combined production represents the primary
energy corresponding to the saved fuel.

2.2.3 Primary Energy Saving

Primary energy saving or Percent fuel savings (PES) with combined production is
obtained relating this energy to the primary energy in the case of separate pro-
duction and is calculated with the relation:
0 1
QF A
PES ¼ @1   100 % ð7Þ
E
gEref þ gQH
Href

Similarly, fuel saving compares the fuel used by the CHP system to a separate
heat and power system. Positive values represent fuel savings, while negative
values indicate that the CHP system is using more fuel than SHP.
Recoverable thermal energy from the various prime movers is available in one or
both of the following two forms, namely hot exhaust gases and hot water.
Decentralized Poly-generation of Energy: Basic Concepts 49

Two options for recovering heat from the hot exhaust gases from the prime
movers could be considered:
1. Direct use of the exhaust for providing process heat;
2. Indirect use via heat exchangers for producing hot water. Hot water produced
can be used to meet the needs for space heating. In applications that require
more thermal energy or higher temperatures than that available from power
generation equipment, supplementary heat is supplied using a duct burn .The
possibilities and the level of energy loss recuperation are dependent on the
energy conversion technology for CHP systems.

3 The Trigeneration Concept

Trigeneration is a basic and most popular form of polygeneration. The term

describes an energy conversion process with combined heat, cooling, and power
generation. Today, availability of CHP technologies with good electrical and
excellent overall efficiency has been adopted on a small-scale [17] and even on a
microscale [18] basis, with suitable applications ranging from residential houses to
schools, restaurants, hotels, and so forth. The trend toward distributed micro-
cogeneration could be significant in terms of increasing the local energy source
availability, reducing both the energy dependency [19] and the vulnerability of the
electrical system to the effects of grid congestions, reducing service interruptions,
blackouts, vandalism or external attacks [19, 20] through the formation of self-
healing energy areas [21, 22]. The advantage of combined production of heating
and power in a cogeneration (or CHP) system is obvious: the waste heat which is
always produced when electricity is generated using thermodynamic cycles is not
released into the environment—as in large-scale centralized power plants—but can
be used. Typical use of this heat is to heat buildings or to produce domestic hot
water. Depending on the building site and building standard, the heating season
often lasts for only 6 months or less. But for the economic viability of CHP
systems, it is important that they are used as much as possible. Therefore, other uses
of the waste heat are awakening more interest. One of the possible uses of waste
heat during the nonheating season is cooling. The concept of trigeneration is an
extension of the CHP concept through adding cold producing equipment for the
summer. Classical trigeneration solutions are represented by coupling a CHP prime
mover to an absorption chiller fired by cogenerated heat. In this scheme, the pro-
duced thermal power is exploited also in the summertime to produce cooling. In this
way, one of the biggest shortcomings that often make cogeneration unprofitable,
that is the lack of adequate thermal request throughout the whole year, is made up
for by transforming the cooling demand into thermal demand.
One difference between various CCHP systems resides in the connection mode
of the cold producing device (Fig. 7), where: PM-primary mover; EG-electrical
generator; MCP-monitoring control and protection system; PC-personal computer.
50 N. Badea

(a) (b)
E
PM EG ECHP E
PM EG
C/COP Thermal C Ec=C/COP
chiller Compresion C
Q chiller
Q
MCP PC
Qhw
Boiler MCP PC Qhw
Boiler

Fig. 7 Trigeneration processes

(a) Heat loss Heat loss

(b)
Electricity
Electricity
Cold
Fuel CCHP Fuel CCHP
Heat Cold Heat

Line losses Line losses

Fig. 8 Energy balance of trigeneration processes

The first version presupposes transforming heat into cold (thermally activated
chiller) and the second presupposes obtaining cold by transforming electric energy
(mechanical compression chiller). The energy balance related to these two trigen-
eration processes is given in Fig. 8.
A standard mode of achieving CCHP system does not exist but, generically,
such a system consists of a cogeneration unit CHP (Fig. 9), a refrigerating device
(a Thermal Driven Chiller—TDC or a Mechanical Compression Chiller—MCC),
heat storage unit (hot water storage—HW), and electricity storage unit.

mCCHP Consumptions
Electricity
storage Electricity

Fuel mCHP CC
Cold
TDC
Heat Heat
storage

HW

Fig. 9 Trigeneration system

Decentralized Poly-generation of Energy: Basic Concepts 51

The energies produced by the CCHP system are dependent on the type of
refrigerating device, but also on whether the system is connected to the national
electricity grid or not.

3.1 Energy Conversion in the Trigeneration

Note electric energy as E, the thermal energy for heating the residence as Q, the
energy necessary for the air conditioning of the residence as C, and the thermal
energy for preparing domestic hot water as Qhw. To satisfy the demand for electric
energy of the residence, the following systems may be used:
• Centralized energy producing system. In this case, the residence is connected to
the electricity grid. The thermal energy demand for heating the residence or for
cooling the air in the residence must be ensured with a system which contains
equipment installed in the residence. This system includes a conventional
condensing boiler (with 90 % thermal efficiency) providing heat for space
heating and sanitary uses (hot water), and a conventional compressing refrig-
erator which supplies cold for air conditioning (Fig. 10).
Regarding the cooling equipment, performance is usually described by means of
the specific coefficient of performance (COP). The COPC can be generally defined
as the ratio of the desired cooling energy output to the relevant input (electrical
energy for electric chillers).
The energetic balance of this system is:
• for the electric subsystem:

C
Egrid ¼ E þ ð8Þ
COPC

Imported/
Egrid E
Electricity need
electricity

C Cold for space

Compressing
conditioning
chiller
(summer)

Qb Heat for space

Natural gas Condensing boiler heating (winter)
Hot water (summer)

Fig. 10 Centralized energy producing system

52 N. Badea

• for the thermal subsystem:

Qb ¼ Q þ Qhw ð9Þ

where:
Egrid the quantity of electricity consumed from the grid;
COPC the coefficient of performance of the compression chiller;
Qb the heat produced by the boiler

• Decentralized energy producing system. In the case of the decentralized system,

two solutions are applied for the supply with electricity:

(a) On-grid (or open) system

This solution produces combined heat and power by using a CHP technology
[23, 24], and cold for air conditioning is generated by means of an absorption
refrigerator making use of the “cogenerated” heat (Fig. 11). The CHP are sized in
order to satisfy the maximum heat demand, so that they generate power in excess of
customer needs. This excess power is exported to the utility grid.
The characteristics of the CHP prime movers can be effectively and synthetically
described by means of the electrical efficiency and the thermal efficiency. For an
absorption refrigerator, the COPa can be defined as the ratio of the desired cooling
energy output to the relevant input (thermal energy for steam-fed, hot water-fed, or
exhaust-fed absorption chillers).
The energetic balance of this system is:
• for the electric subsystem:

ECHP ¼ E  Egrid ð10Þ

Imported/ Egrid E
Exported Power Electricity need
electricity
ECHP
Absorbtion C Cold for space
Natural gas CHP unit chiller conditioning

QCHP
C/COPa
Q+QHW Heat for space
Heat heating (winter)
Hot water

Fig. 11 Decentralized on-grid energy producing system

Decentralized Poly-generation of Energy: Basic Concepts 53

• for the thermal subsystem:

C
QCHP ¼ Q þ Qhw þ ð11Þ
COPa

where:
COPa the coefficient of performance of the ad/absorption chiller;
(b) Off-grid (or ‘‘isolated’’) system
Since they do not involve importing/exporting electricity from/to the utility grid,
small power plants are sized in order to satisfy the maximum customer needs of
electricity. This implies that the amount of ‘‘cogenerated’’ heat is yes or not suf-
ficient to satisfy energy needs for domestic heating and air conditioning. Heat and
cold demands of the residence can be covered by adding a boiler and an absorption
chiller (Fig. 12). Energy balance of the system is the following:
• for the electric subsystem:

C0
ECHP ¼ E þ ð12Þ
COPC

• for the thermal subsystem:

C  C0
Qb þ QCHP ¼ Q þ Qhw þ ð13Þ
COPa

E
Power Electricity need

ECHP Compres- C’
sion chiller
Cold for space
Natural gas CHP unit conditioning
Absorption
chiller
QCHP C-C’
C-C’
Heat for space
COPa Q+QHW
Heat heating (winter)
Hot water
Qb
Condensing
boiler

Fig. 12 Decentralized system with off-grid energy production

54 N. Badea

where:
C’ is the quantity of cold produced by the mechanical compression chiller.
The term “cogeneration” is traditionally adopted with reference to the combined
production of heat and electricity from fossil fuels. However, other types of
cogeneration sources can be adopted [24, 25], for example from solar power, that
allow for clean high-performance solutions. In this respect, increasing interest is
being lately gained by applications of solar technologies for multigeneration. More
specifically, photovoltaic (PV) modules, thermal collectors, and hybrid photovol-
taic/thermal (PV/T) systems can be effectively coupled to bottoming cooling/
heating equipment. In particular, although in theory electricity can be produced in a
PV system and then utilized to feed an electric chiller, it results more energetically
and economically effective to adopt heat-fired cooling technologies (namely
adsorption, absorption, or desiccant systems) to be fed by cogenerated heat in a
PV/T solar system (solar trigeneration), or by heat produced in a solar collector. In
particular, PV/T solar units for cogenerative and trigenerative applications bear the
additional intrinsic energy benefit that the optimized cooling of the solar modules
brought by the heat recovery system brings along an increase in the PV electrical
generation efficiency owing to decrease of the module temperature. The rationale of
the utilization of solar systems for both heating and cooling generation is the same
as for adopting conventional CHP unit in trigeneration applications. In fact, the
solar thermal power is optimally exploited throughout the year, namely, in the
summertime for cooling generation, and in the wintertime for heat generation.
What results from the presentation of these systems is that the applications
developed in the decentralized energy production area can be categorized in
structural and functional terms and in the increasing order of complexity, as:
(a) classical cogeneration (single input fuel, double output, single site);
(b) trigeneration (single/multiple input fuel, manifold output energy vectors,
single site);
(c) distributed multigeneration (single/multiple input fuel, manifold output energy
vectors, multiple sites).
From a generalized point of view, with trigeneration planning [25] it is possible
to look at the plant as a black box (Fig. 13) with an array of inputs and manifold
outputs. The core of the system is represented by two main physical blocks:
the CHP block, containing a cogeneration prime mover. It produces electricity
(E) and heat (Q) for various possible final uses,
the additional generation plant (AGP) may be composed of various equipments
for cooling and/or heat production and/or electricity production.
Decentralized Poly-generation of Energy: Basic Concepts 55

Fig. 13 Trigeneration black

box system Storage

C E Q
Q
QF
AGP C

Local
Fuel user
E
QF
CHP
Q

E E Q

Grid Renewable
sources

3.2 Performance Indicators of the Trigeneration Systems

3.2.1 Primary Energy Saving to Trigeneration Systems

The CCHP system is compared to separate heat and power (SHP) systems in order
to define its efficiency. This comparison is similar to the one between CHP and SHP
systems. For SHP systems, Directive 2012/27/EC defines primary energy saving
(PES), which may be calculated with the relation:

1
PES ¼ 1  gH ð14Þ
gHref þ ggE
Eref

where:
ηH is the heat efficiency of the cogeneration production, defined as annual useful
heat output divided by the fuel input used to produce the sum of useful heat output
and electricity from cogeneration;
ηHref is the efficiency reference value for separate heat production;
ηE is the electrical efficiency of the cogeneration production defined as annual
electricity from cogeneration divided by the fuel input used to produce the sum of
useful heat output and electricity from cogeneration;
ηEref is the efficiency reference value for separate electricity production.
56 N. Badea

Where a cogeneration unit generates mechanical energy, the annual electricity

from cogeneration may be increased by an additional element representing the
amount of electricity which is equivalent to that of mechanical energy.
On the other hand, primary energy saving may also be calculated with the
relation:

QF
PES ¼ 1  ð15Þ
E
gEref þ gQH
Href

where QF is the fuel consumption of the cogeneration plant, E is the electricity

generated, QH is the heat generated, and ηHref, ηEref are the two reference effi-
ciencies for electricity and heat generation, defined separately.
The efficiency reference values are calculated according to fuel categories and
the climatic differences between Member States.
For CCHP systems, no standardized relation for calculating the primary energy
saving has been found, but in some countries [26] where this technology is used,
PES is calculated with the relation:
0 1
QF
PES ¼ @1  A  100 ð16Þ
E
gEref þ g þ COPC
QH
Href ref gEref

where C is the cooling energy generated and COPref is the performance reference
chiller. Reference thermal efficiency is set to 0.8 for civil cogeneration and 0.9 for
other cases. The reference chiller performance COPref is set to 3.0. Reference values
for electrical efficiency used to calculate the energy saving index [26] is presented
in Table 4.
The relation for calculating PES may be rearranged as:
0 1
B QF C
PES ¼ @1  Eþ C A  100 ð17Þ
COPref þ QH
g Erefg Href

Table 4 Reference values for electrical efficiency [26]

Electrical efficiency for Italian regulation energy calculation
Nominal power (MW) Natural gas, Oil, naphtha, Solid fossil Solid refuse fuels
liquid gas diesel fuel fuels (organic and inorganic)
<1 MWe 0.38 0.35 0.33 0.23
>1–10 MWe 0.4 0.36 0.34 0.25
Decentralized Poly-generation of Energy: Basic Concepts 57

Or
!
QF
PES ¼ 1 Esys Q  100
gEref þ g sys
Href

where:

C
Esys ¼ E þ
COPref

Under this form, the relation is similar to the relation for calculating PES defined
in cogeneration, when the cooling energy is generated through electric energy
consumption. Generalizing to thermal systems (activated thermally), where cooling
energy is generated through thermal energy consumption, we may define PES with
the similar cogeneration relation:
0 1
B QF C
PES ¼ @1  QH þ C A  100 % ð18Þ
E
þ COPref
gEref gHref

or
!
QF
PES ¼ 1 Esys Q  100 %
gEref þ g sys
Href

where:

C
Qsys ¼ QH þ
COPref

3.2.2 Energy Efficiency of the Trigeneration Systems

PES refers basically to the percentage of fuel saved from the energy production of
the CCHP system compared to the same energy produced separately. PES does not
point if this production of the CCHP system is useful or not. Energy can be
exceedingly produced and dissipated in the environment (especially for thermal
energy). The second indicator sets the correlation between the produced and useful
energy. This is also called CCHP efficiency. The second performance indicator is
CCHP system efficiency given by relation:
58 N. Badea

Esys þ Qsys
EFFCCHP ¼  100 %
QF þ EPV þ QTP

where:
EPV is the annual specific electricity production from photovoltaic panels (PV);
QTP is the annual specific heat production from thermal panels (TP);
Esys is the annual specific electricity production from CCHP system;
Qsys is the annual specific heat production from CCHP system;
QF is the specific fuel consumption of CCHP system (sum of useful fuel input
for CHP unit and additional boiler)

If we use the renewable energy, the primary energy is considered the amount of
energy produced. In other words, if the electricity production is from renewable
sources, is not taken into account the efficiency of the conversion process.

References

1. Jenkins N, Allan R, Crossley P, Kirschen D, Strbac G (2000) Embedded generation, IEE

power and energy series 31. The IEE, London, UK
2. Willis HL, Scott WG (2000) Distributed power generation: planning and evaluation. Dekker,
New York
3. Ackermann T, Andersson G (2001) Distributed generation: a definition. Electr Power Syst Res
57(3):195–204
4. Pepermans G, Driesen J, Haeseldonckx D, Belmans R, D’haeseleer W (2007) Distributed
generation: definition, benefits and issues. Energy Policy 33(6):787–798
5. Alanne K, Saari A (2006) Distributed energy generation and sustainable development. Renew
Sustain Energy Rev 10:539–558
6. Kirschen DS (2003) Demand-side view of electricity markets. IEEE Trans Power Syst 18
(2):520–527
7. Levy R (2006) Avision of demand response—2016. Electr J 19(8):12–23
8. Valero S, Ortiz M, Senabre C, Alvarez C, Franco FJG, Gabaldon A (2007) Methods for
customer and demand response policies selection in new electricity markets. IET Gener
Transm Distrib 1(1):104–110
9. Sezgen O, Goldman CA, Krishnarao P (2007) Option value of electricity demand response.
Energy 32(2):108–119
10. Ribeiro PF, Johnson BK, Crow ML, Arsoy A, Liu Y (2001) Energy storage systems for
advanced power applications. Proc IEEE 89(12):1744–1756
11. Clark W, Isherwood W (2004) Distributed generation: remote power systems with advanced
storage technologies. Energy Policy 32(14):1573–1589
12. Ise T, Kita M, Taguchi A (2005) A hybrid energy storage with a SMES and secondary battery.
IEEE Trans Appl Superconduct 15(2):1915–1918
13. Bolund B, Bernhoff H, Leijon M (2007) Flywheel energy and power storage systems. Renew
Sustain Energy Rev 11(2):235–258
14. Micro-Map (2002) Mini And Micro CHP—Market Assessment And Development Plan,
European Commission SAVE programme, Faber Maunsell Ltd
15. EPIA (2012) Solar photovoltaics on the road to large-scale grid integration report, Sept 2012
Decentralized Poly-generation of Energy: Basic Concepts 59

16. Small-scale cogeneration, why? In which case? A guide for decision makers. In: European
commission directorate general for energy DGXVII, July 1999
17. Onovwiona HI, Ugursal VI (2006) Residential cogeneration systems: review of the current
technology. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 10(5):389–431
18. Pehnt M, Cames M, Fischer C, Praetorius B, Schneider L, Schumacher K et al. (eds) (2006)
Micro cogeneration: towards decentralized energy systems. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
19. Asif M, Muneer T (2007) Energy supply, its demand and security issues for developed and
emerging economies. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 11(7):1388–1413
20. Costantini V, Gracceva F, Markandya A, Vicini G (2007) Security of energy supply:
comparing scenarios from a European perspective. Energy Policy 35(1):210–226
21. Haibo Y, Vittal V, Zhong Y (2003) Self-healing in power systems: an approach using
islanding and rate of frequency decline-based load shedding. IEEE Trans Power Syst 18
(1):174–181
22. Amin SM, Wollenberg BF (2005) Toward a smart grid: power delivery for the 21st century.
IEEE Power Energ Mag 3(5):34–41
23. Badea N, Paraschiv I, Oanca M (2013) Micro CHP with fuel cell for boiler supply. In: 4th
international symposium on electrical and electronics engineering (ISEEE), Galaţi, Romania.
ISBN 978-1-4799-2442-4/13/©2013 IEEE doi:10.1109/ISEEE.2013.6674335. Accessed
11–13 Oct 2013
24. Badea N, Cazacu N, Voncila I, Uzuneanu K (2010) Optimal architectures of domestic mCCHP
systems based on renewable sources. In: 4th WSEAS international conference on renewable
energy sources (RES’10), pp 95–100, Kantaoui, Sousse, Tunisia. ISBN 978-960-474-187-8,
ISSN 1790-5095, Accessed 3–6 May 2010
25. Chicco G, Mancarella P (2009) Distributed multi-generation: a comprehensive view. Renew
Sustain Energy Rev 13:535–551
26. PolySmart-Poly-generation www.polysmart.org
27. Soderman J, Pettersson F (2006) Structural and operational optimisation of distributed energy
systems. Appl Therm Eng 26:1400–1408
http://www.springer.com/978-1-4471-6253-7