Set-up and Pilot Operation of an In-house Developed Biomass ORC μCHP in the Czech Republic

orc2019 Tracking Number 12

Microcogeneration (μCHP) systems have been tried with various technologies including ORC and with many attempts for commercialization. The requirements of noble fuels (e.g. natural gas), high price, and unsuitable business models together with legal and other obstacles have in most cases limited its successful deployment. A unique ORC based μCHP system named for biomass combustion (including low quality biomass) named Wave is presented in this paper. The developed system is first shown in scope of the previous research and development. The issues that have arisen with the operation of the pilot installation in comparison to the laboratory experimental unit including technical, legal and economic aspects, are outlined. This is followed by a description of the technical parameters and the applied technologies of the system. Operation parameters in given regimes are shown based on the field data from the pilot application as well as overall integral quantities in the first heating season. The operation of the pilot commercial unit is not yet without any flaws and several problems occurred. These are presented in this paper and are a subject of an intense development. Commercialization of μCHP ORC units is limited by several economic and political factors. The different paradigm that authors adopted shows that economic performance cannot be the only parameter for investment evaluation, but investor needs to assess additional benefits from the μCHP system. This point is discussed in a separate chapter.