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U.S. Department of Energy
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Small cogeneration system costs and performance: Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7130427
This study reports data gathered from 54 cogeneration sites on the reliability, performance and operating cost histories of the equipment at each site. In all cases the systems were smaller than 2 MW(e) output. Availability was used as the measure of reliability in this study. The variation of availability with the following seven characteristics was analyzed: engine speed, maintenance contract type, absorption chiller type, turbocharger type, operation mode, emissions controls and engine type. Availability variations by time in service were also calculated. In addition the data was analyzed to assess the causes of unscheduled outages. System shutdown statistics were gathered that attributed failure to one or more of 15 different subsystems. Data was also gathered on the electric and thermal efficiencies of the cogeneration system, system installed costs, maintenance costs, savings, payback periods, and ownership. Again the variation in these data with the six parameters listed above were analyzed. All of the data were entered into a database using the dBase III software and an IBM PC. 27 ref., 16 tables.
Research Organization:
Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (USA); Science Applications International Corp., San Diego, CA (USA)
OSTI ID:
7130427
Report Number(s):
EPRI-EM-5954; ON: TI88015243
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English