Results From the Research on Microturbine-CHP-Applications in Flanders

Since 2002, Vito is exploring the market opportunities for microturbine-CHP in Flanders. In the theoretical research, the effect of the efficiencies of microturbine-CHP on the economical feasibility of the project was investigated. In Flanders, cogeneration can obtain financial support proportional to the primary energy saving. The significant impact of this support will be shown from the results of three feasibility studies on microturbine-CHP. This paper also explains that microturbine based cooling does not realize primary energy savings and therefore will hardly be financially attractive in Flanders. In our Thermotechnical laboratory, we have performed tests on the C30 LF/DG-microturbine-CHP. These tests were done with different fuel gas compositions. The turbine performed very good, but emissions increased with lower methane content of the fuel. At the end, one turbine blade seemed to be broken. Nevertheless, the performance or vibrations of the turbine were not affected.