New design of CHP for hypermarket of higher energy efficiency, less-fugitive refrigerant emissions and a remarkable reduction in initial and operating cost

Abstract

High initial cost of power plant, limited power capacity of the existing plant and the frequent black out of many districts due to the continuous increase in electrical demands, in addition to the adverse effect of the blackout on hypermarkets, especially on foodstuff such as meat, chicken, etc. strongly encourage the adoption of a regenerating process and the principle of combined heat and power. This work investigates the upgrading of the combined cooling heat and power system and improving the regenerating process adopted in the first design of an existing project. Linking between refrigeration and air-conditioning systems is proposed in scheme-II. A single-effect absorption chiller operating in the range of refrigeration scale (i.e. aqueous-ammonia refrigeration, not air-conditioning scale, LiBr–H₂O employed in scheme-I) will be adopted using pressurised hot water recovered from the generators. The chilled water system will be serving three categories in the following order, namely, refrigeration stores, cold stores and air-conditioning units, respectively. The chilled water output of the first category will be the input of the second one. This will enhance the overall system efficiency, reduce the generator load and lessen the fugitive refrigerant emissions, which mainly participate in ozone-depleting potential and global-warming potential. This is in addition to the dramatic reduction in initial and operating cost, which can be estimated to be 50% and 79.6%, respectively.

Keywords:

• energy efficiency
• power supply
• CHP
• CCHP
• hypermarket
• refrigerant emissions
• ODP
• GWP

A profound thanks and appreciation awarded to DC-PRO Company, UAE, and particularly to Mr George Barbary and his staff for their great assistance in providing the details of hypermarket project to be an example for such projects development.