Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Mago, Pedro

Committee Member

Luck, Rogelio

Committee Member

Srinivasan, Kalyan K.

Committee Member

Forbes, Richard E.

Date of Degree

5-12-2012

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

Major

Mechanical Engineering

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

College

James Worth Bagley College of Engineering

Department

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to develop a methodology which can be used to assess the economic potential for combined heat and power (CHP) systems to be employed in an effort to offset a portion or all of the conventionally supplied power and thermal energy at industrial manufacturing facilities. A methodology is developed which determines the economic considerations of proposed industrial CHP projects once the system configuration is specified. This methodology is then applied to a number of different industrial facilities in a parametric analysis in order to demonstrate how it can be used to assess the potential for success for CHP at industrial sites for a wide range of manufacturing processes. Many of the methodology inputs, such as facility operational hours, facility thermal load, etc. are then varied in order to determine how they affect the economic considerations of the corresponding project. Conclusions are subsequently made as to how each of these parameters can be indicative of project success before employing the methodology. This study focuses on industrial sites in the Southeast U.S., which historically have relatively low utility usage rates. The Southeast U.S. also lacks adequate policy applicable to CHP systems, such as net metering and interconnection standards rules, when compared to the rest of the country. It is for this reason that the methodology developed in this research assumes that a base load CHP system is the most economically viable CHP option and the current status of policy applicable to CHP at industrial facilities located in the Southeast U.S. is also investigated. The results of the parametric analysis are modified to determine if improved economics can be attained if the associated facilities engage in net metering programs. As a result, suggested net metering rates that can positively affect the economic considerations of industrial CHP projects in the Southeast U.S. are realized. Finally, a simple tool based on the methodology presented in this research was developed and can be used to calculate the project economics of an industrial facility CHP system.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/19297

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