Dynamic modelling and simulation study of a university campus CHP power plant

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) has become one of the most widely used technologies to provide electricity and heat with a single plant. Modelling and simulation study of the CHP process is important for power and thermodynamics evaluation and economic analysis. A simplified dynamic model based on the University of Warwick micro-CHP power plant is developed in this paper. In this CHP process, a gas turbine module is adopted and modelled as the gas engine based on methane combustion principle to generate electricity. Heat recovery system and auxiliary boiler modules are developed for thermal power generation. The simulation results of the gas engine and each auxiliary sub-system are validated by comparing the results with the operating data collected by the Estates Team of the University of Warwick. In addition, the dynamic performance of the whole CHP process is studied with respect to the variation from the input of syngas stream. The simulation results show the dynamic changes of key output variables, including electricity generation, thermal power output and water output temperature. The simulation results of one summer working day and one winter working day of gas engine and heat exchanger are compared with operation data. The auxiliary boiler simulation data is analyzed and compared with collected operation data of one spring and one winter working day.