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RESEARCH PAPERS

Improvement of Power Generation Efficiency of an Independent Microgrid Composed of Distributed Engine Generators

[+] Author and Article Information
Shin’ya Obara

Tomakomai National College of Technology, 443 Nishikioka, Tomakomai 059-1275, Japanshinya@me.tomakomai-ct.ac.jp

J. Energy Resour. Technol 129(3), 190-199 (Feb 23, 2007) (10 pages) doi:10.1115/1.2748812 History: Received February 13, 2006; Revised February 23, 2007

Abstract

The power generation efficiency and power cost of an independent microgrid that distributes the power from a small diesel engine power generator was investigated using numerical analysis. The fuel consumption of a small diesel engine and the relation between power generation and heat power were obtained in experiments using a prototype. The independent microgrid built using one to six sets of 20 average houses in Sapporo and the distributed engine generators were examined using these test results. However, the operation of a diesel engine power generator controls the number of operations according to the magnitude of the power load of the microgrid. When a diesel engine power generator is distributed, since the power generation capacity per set decreases compared with the central system, the load factor of each engine generator rises. As a result, the operation of an engine at partial load with low efficiency can be reduced. When the number of distributions of the engine generator increases as a result of numerical analysis, the cost of the fuel decreases. However, when the rise in facility cost is taken into consideration, the number of engine generators for distribution is in fact 3 or 4.

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Figures

Figure 1

Diesel engine independent microgrid system

Figure 2

Diesel engine co-generation system

Figure 3

Installed numbers of an engine generator, and efficiency model: (a) efficiency model of a central system; (b) efficiency model when installing three engine generators

Figure 4

Test diesel engine co-generation system

Figure 5

Characteristics of diesel engine generator output. Engine number of revolutions is 1600rpm.

Figure 6

Fuel supply and energy output of engine generator. Engine number of revolutions is 1600rpm. Area A corresponds to the condition in which only the engine-generator is working. Operating Area B corresponds to the condition along which boiler is added to the engine-generator.

Figure 7

Diesel engine generator efficiency

Figure 8

Block diagram of analysis. Number of diesel-engine generator to be distributed is 2.

Figure 9

External temperature model in Sapporo

Figure 10

Average daily power and heat needs of a cold region house with traditional heating system space (a) power needs (b) heat needs

Figure 11

Load of each engine generator: (a) central system; (b) two systems; (c) four systems; (d) six systems

Figure 12

Installed numbers of an engine generator, and total input-output of power: (a) central system; (b) two systems; (c) four systems; (d) six systems

Figure 13

Analysis results of energy output: (a) central system; (b) two systems; (c) four systems; (d-1) six systems (1); (d-2) six systems (2)

Figure 14

Analysis results of efficiency and load factor: (a) central system; (b) two systems; (c) four systems; (d-1) six systems (1); (d-2) six systems (2)

Figure 15

Result of the relation between the installed number of an engine generator, and the fuel consumption

Figure 16

Analysis results of the number of installations of an engine generator, and kerosene fuel cost

Figure 17

Analysis results of the number of installations of an engine generator, and the reduction value of kerosene cost. Comparison with the operation cost for 1 year.

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