PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF A MICROTURBINE-BASED COGENERATIVE PLANT

This paper presents the results of an experimental analysis performed on a microturbine-based small cogenerative plant. The aim of the experimental campaign was to verify behavior and performances of the microturbine at both full and partial load. Attention was particularly paid to the energy saving indexes defined in the AEEG 42/02 Directive (Italian Authority for electrical energy and gas) and EU Directive 2004/8/EC, which is more strict. Such indexes are the energy saving index IRE, the thermal limit LT (AEEG 42/02) and the primary energy saving PES (EU 2004/8/EC). The results of the experimental campaign show that a cogenerative plant equipped with a microturbine as a prime mover can easily exceed the minimum values of the energy saving index imposed by the current directives during operation at full load. On the contrary, very accurate design of the plant and prediction of the load profiles are required to get acceptable results if operation at partial load becomes necessary.