Gas driven microcogenerator incorporating heat pump for residential application

The HVAC market for residential and light commercial applications is largely dominated by electrically-drive units; this trend involves an increas in power generation capacity of electric utilities and a summer peak load of electric energy consumption. On the other hand, gas cooling technologies (GCT) can shift energy demand in summer from electricity to gas also permitting the utilization of natural gas surplus in warm seasons. In this paper a gas-fired domestic scale cogeneratio plant incorporating a heat pump is examined and gives comparison with the traditional energy systems used to supply heat and power. This paper presents the Energy, Econimic and Environmental (3-E) analysis of a natural gas-fired MCHP in combination with an electric heat pump (EHP). The 3-E analysis of the MCHP/EHP begins with the results of a detailed experimental activity developed in e a test facility (Dentice et al. 2003a) for a wide range of conditions. Two operating conditions were examined: a heating mode with co-production of electric, thermal and cooling energy (tri-generaion). The annual operating performance, also based on the typical features of the Italian market, is also discussed with a simplified approach.