Page 371 - Sustainable On-Site CHP Systems Design, Construction, and Operations

344 Ca s e S t u d y 2

Conclusion
This CHP system is designed to recover turbine energy using an exhaust-driven double
effect absorption chiller installed in parallel with an HRSG. This arrangement is a bit
more complex than the typical CHP system that would utilize an HRSG and a steam-
driven absorption chiller. While system designers expect a limited performance benefit
due to the use of an exhaust-driven unit, there is one significant advantage to this type
of equipment. In applications that do not require steam production, an exhaust-driven
unit can be delivered in the form of a “chiller-heater,” which can produce chilled water
as well as low-temperature hot water (170°F) from the same unit. By eliminating the
need for an HRSG, the use of an exhaust-driven chiller-heater can greatly simplify the
design—and reduce the installed cost—of a CHP system. The chiller-heater approach is
expected to be the logical path toward the goal of wider application of exhaust-driven
absorption technology. The study of this CHP project highlights the possibilities of
packaged CHP solutions (Chap. 5), the importance of managing operational efficiency
(Chap. 17), and the results of detailed operation and maintenance criteria (Chap. 16).