Open AccessEconomic analysis and optimal capacity sizing of turbo‐expander‐based microgrid
Author(s) -
Ghanaee Reza,
Foroud Asghar Akbari
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
iet renewable power generation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.005
H-Index - 76
ISSN - 1752-1424
DOI - 10.1049/iet-rpg.2016.0390
Subject(s) - microgrid , sizing , turboexpander , exergy , pressure regulator , computer science , automotive engineering , renewable energy , environmental science , process engineering , mechanical engineering , electrical engineering , engineering , heat exchanger , chemistry , organic chemistry
These days, extensive efforts are being carried out to improve energy efficiency and energy recovery in various energy systems, such as extraction of energy from the high‐pressure natural gas (NG) in pressure reduction stations (PRSs) employing a turbo‐expander (TE). In conventional PRSs, NG pressure reduction is carried out by pressure regulators, leading to the loss of mechanical exergy available in the pressurised NG as heat. Thus, replacing a pressure regulator with TE allows the extraction of the mechanical exergy to change into electrical form of energy by coupling with a generator. So, a novel configuration is presented here for grid‐connected microgrid based on TE. Furthermore, a new procedure is developed for optimal capacity sizing of energy resources in the proposed TE‐based microgrid. Finally, optimisation results (with and without TE) and economical considerations are discussed.