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Comparative assessment of the effectiveness of a free-piston Stirling engine-based micro-cogeneration unit and a heat pump

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  • Remiorz, Leszek
  • Kotowicz, Janusz
  • Uchman, Wojciech

Abstract

In this article, a comparison of the thermodynamic and economic effectiveness of two heating systems dedicated to residential applications is presented: a natural gas-fueled micro-cogeneration unit based on a free-piston Stirling engine that generates additional electric energy, and a heat pump system. The measurements of the heat pump system as well as those of the energy (electricity and heat) demand profiles in the analyzed heating season were conducted in a single-family house. The measurements of the μCHP unit were made using a laboratory stand prepared for simulating a variable heat demand. The efficiency of electric energy generation in the μCHP unit was in the range of 7.2%–12.7%, and the overall efficiency was in the range of 88.6%–92.4%. The economic evaluation of the μCHP unit revealed a slight loss compared to the operation of the heat pump throughout the heating season. Sensitivity analysis of the unit price of natural gas and electric energy was performed, and revealed that a reduction in the gas price or an increase in the purchase price of electricity at 2% would have a beneficial financial effect when operating a μCHP system as compared to a heat pump.

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  • Remiorz, Leszek & Kotowicz, Janusz & Uchman, Wojciech, 2018. "Comparative assessment of the effectiveness of a free-piston Stirling engine-based micro-cogeneration unit and a heat pump," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 134-147.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:148:y:2018:i:c:p:134-147
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2018.01.129
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Luo, Jing & Zhang, Limin & Chen, Yanyan & Sun, Yanlei & Yu, Guoyao & Hu, Jianying & Luo, Ercang, 2023. "Numerical study on a free-piston Stirling electric generator with a gas-spring-postpositioned displacer for high-power applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    3. Ayodeji Sowale & Edward J. Anthony & Athanasios John Kolios, 2018. "Optimisation of a Quasi-Steady Model of a Free-Piston Stirling Engine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-17, December.
    4. Carmela Perozziello & Lavinia Grosu & Bianca Maria Vaglieco, 2021. "Free-Piston Stirling Engine Technologies and Models: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-22, October.
    5. Kotowicz, Janusz & Uchman, Wojciech, 2021. "Analysis of the integrated energy system in residential scale: Photovoltaics, micro-cogeneration and electrical energy storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    6. Zhu, Shunmin & Yu, Guoyao & Liang, Kun & Dai, Wei & Luo, Ercang, 2021. "A review of Stirling-engine-based combined heat and power technology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    7. Tavakolpour-Saleh, A.R. & Zare, Shahryar, 2021. "Justifying performance of thermo-acoustic Stirling engines based on a novel lumped mechanical model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    8. Qiu, Songgang & Gao, Yuan & Rinker, Garrett & Yanaga, Koji, 2019. "Development of an advanced free-piston Stirling engine for micro combined heating and power application," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 987-1000.
    9. Marrasso, E. & Roselli, C. & Sasso, M. & Tariello, F., 2019. "Comparison of centralized and decentralized air-conditioning systems for a multi-storey/multi users building integrated with electric and diesel vehicles and considering the evolution of the national ," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 319-333.
    10. Uchman, Wojciech & Kotowicz, Janusz & Li, Kin Fun, 2021. "Evaluation of a micro-cogeneration unit with integrated electrical energy storage for residential application," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(PA).
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