Trigenerarea o soluie de

perspectiv i n Romnia.
Posibiliti dar i constrngeri de
aplicare

Tri-generation, an Efficient Solution

for the Future also in Romania.
Possibilities and Limits of Application

Rodica Frunzulic, ef de lucrri, Facultatea de Instalaii, Universitatea Tehnic de Construcii Bucureti, e-mail:
frunza@instal.utcb.ro
Mirela Sanda oropoc, ef de lucrri, Facultatea de Instalaii, Universitatea Tehnic de Construcii Bucureti, e-mail:
tmirela@instal.utcb.ro

1. Principiul trigenerrii

1. The principle of tri-generation

Noiunea de trigenerare desemneaz asocierea a

dou tehnici bine cunoscute astzi:
- cogenerarea (producerea combinat de cldur
i energie electric),
- producerea de frig prin absorbie sau compresie.
Eficiena , randamentul i respectiv rentabilitatea
unui ciclu de cogenerare sunt legate de corelarea
(flexibilitatea) ntre posibilitile de producere i
consum ale celor dou forme de energie.
Perspectiva de a utiliza o parte din energia
termic sau mecanic (electric) n vederea
producerii frigului deschide noi orizonturi.
Acest tip de instalaii se preteaz att pentru
consumatorii industriali ct i pentru sectorul
teriar (spitale, aeroporturi, sli informatice etc.).

The tri-generation concept denominates two wellknown techniques:

-cogeneration (combined heat and power
process),
-cool production by using compression or
absorbtion installations.
The rentability and the efficiency of a
cogeneration cycle are related to the production
and consumption possibilities of the two forms of
energy (heat and power). The possibility of using
a part of heat or power in order to produce cool
(for example chilled water for air conditioning)
opens a new perspective. Such a solution may be
applied for industrial consumers but also for
hospitals, central computer installations, airports
etc.

Figura.1. Tipuri de energie obinute prin instalaii de trigenerare

Figure 1. Diferent types of energy obtained in tri-generation installations

2. Tehnici posibil de aplicat

2. Possible techniques to apply

O gam relativ larg de configuraii tehnice stau

astzi la dispoziia specialitilor, permind
adaptarea
trigenerrii
la
necesitile
consumatorilor. n privina cogenerrii, atenia
proiectanilor se poate ndrepta ctre instalaii cu
combustie extern sau respectiv intern. Alegerea
echipamentului corespunztor sectorului de
producere a frigului se poate face din gama
mainilor cu compresie sau respectiv absorbie.

A wide range of tri-generation techniques can be

applied today, in order to satisfy the needs of
consumers.
Regarding the cogeneration, the choice may be
an installation with external or internal
combustion.
For cooling, we can choose installations with
compression or absorption machines.

3. Trigenerare cu combustie extern i main

de absorbie (figura 2)

3. Tri-generation with external combustion

and an absorption machine (figure 2)
In this case the installation is made of a high
pressure steam engine (35-90 bars), a steam
turbine, a power generator and a cooling
absorption machine. Another possibility could be
to replace the extraction of the turbine with a
second turbine equipped with a compressor. In
this configuration the cogeneration ratio (E/Q) is
superior compared with an ordinary cogeneration
installation.

Figura 2. Trigenerare utiliznd combustia extern

1- Cazan de abur ; 2-Turbin de abur; 3- Generator
de energie electric; 4- Consumator de cldur; 5main frigorific cu compresie.
Figure 2. Tri-generation using external
combustion 1- Steam boiler; 2-Steam turbine; 3Electric energy generator; 4 - Heat consumer; 5
Cooling using compression

n acest caz instalaia se compune dintr-un cazan

de abur de nalt presiune (35-90 bari), o turbin
de abur cu contrapresiune sau priz reglabil, un
generator de energie electric i o main
frigorific cu absorbie. n variant, n locul prizei
reglabile se poate amplasa o a doua turbin
echipat cu un compresor. n aceast configuraie
indicele de cogenerare (raportul E/Q) crete fa
de cel corespunztor al unei instalaii clasice de
cogenerare.

Figura 3. Trigenerare utiliznd combustia intern

(utiliznd motor termic)
1- Motor termic ; 2-Compresor frigorific; 3- Generator de
energie electric
Figure 3. Tri-generation using internal combustion
1- Engine; 2-Compressor; 3- Electric energy generator;

4.

Trigenerare cu combustie intern i

producere mecanic a frigului (figura 3)

4. Tri-generation with internal combustion and

mechanical cool production (figure 3)

Aceast soluie conine:

-o instalaie cu motor termic sau turbin ,
-un generator de energie electric,
-un compresor frigorific.
Motorul termic (sau turbina) furnizeaz energie
alternatorului i/sau unui compresor frigorific,
prin intermediul a doi arbori. Un sistem de reglare
permite varierea puterii mecanice transmise
fiecrui element (generator sau compresor). n
aceast configuraie producia de energie electric
este ntotdeauna inferioar celei obinute cu o
instalaie clasic de cogenerare.

This solution contains:

-an engine or a turbine,
-a power generator,
-a cooling compressor.
The engine (or the turbine) supplies the generator
and/or the compressor with power.
A regulation system allows the variation of
mechanical power supplied to each element
(generator or compressor).
In this case the cogeneration ratio is always
smaller than for an ordinary cogeneration
installation.

5. Principiul de funcionare al unui grup cu

absorbie sau compresor

5. The functioning principle of an absorbtion

or compression group

Tehnica de absorbie cea mai des ntlnit pentru

temperaturi pozitive, utilizeaz o soluie de ap
distilat/bromur de litiu evitnd utilizarea
agenilor frigorifici care se ntlnesc de obicei n
instalaiile cu compresie (CFC sau HCFC) cu
aciune nefast asupra mediului. Bromura de litiu
este o sare caracterizat de aviditate fa de ap i
separarea de aceasta n condiii de presiune i
temperatur accesibile n instalaii. Ciclul de
funcionare cuprinde urmtoarea derulare (fig. 4).

Absorption is the most common technique for

positive temperatures and it uses a water/ lithium
bromure solution.
The lithium bromure is a salt characterized by
avidity for water and its capacity to separate from
it for pressure and temperature values frequently
encountered in installations. In order to be able to
follow the progress in the machine, a short
description of the absorption process is given in
the following (figure 4).

Figura 4. Schema de principiu a functionarii unui ciclu de absorptie cu solutie apa-bromura de litiu.
1-Condensator; 2-Surs de joas temperatur; 3-Sursa de temperatur ridicat; 4- Recuperator de temperatur
ridicat; 5- Recuperator de temperatur joas; 6-Evaporator; 7- Absorbitor
Figure 4. The absorption process in installation
1- Condenser; 2-Low temperature generator; 3-High temperature generator; 4-High temperature recuperator;
5-Low temperature recuperator; 6-Evaporator; 7-Absorber

Soluia bromur de litiu-ap este adus la fierbere

ntr-un schimbtor de cldur (fierbtor) de ctre
fluidul caloportor. Prin evaporarea apei,
concentraia de bromur de litiu crete. Vaporii de
ap obinui sunt de asemenea condensai prin
intermediul unui schimbtor alimentat cu ap de
rcire. Apa condensat este introdus ntr-un
evaporator sub vid evaporndu-se la aprox. 50C,
prelund cldura latent de vaporizare din
circuitul de ap rcit. Vaporii sunt absorbii
ulterior ntr-un absorbitor de soluia concentrat.
Acest sistem asigur producerea apei rcite ntrun ciclu repetitiv.

The bromure/water solution is brought to boiling

in a heat-exchanger.
By evaporation of the water, the lithium bromure
concentration increases.
The water vapors obtained are also condensed in
a heat exchanger supplied with cooled water.
Then, the condensed water is introduced in an
evaporator, where it evaporates at a temperature
of 50C and produces chilled water.
The vapors are absorbed in an absorber by the
concentrated solution.
The cycle is a closed circuit whereby cooled
water is produced.

6. Studiu de caz

6. Particular study:

Cu trei ani in urm, atunci cnd n Copenhaga sau fcut primele investigaii despre trigenerare i
posibilitile de implementare ale acesteia,
Compania de afaceri Egmont s-a oferit s
experimenteze (figura 5).
Pentru necesarul de frig/cald al acestei companii
s-a stabilit ca necesar o central avnd 1200 KW
putere maxim. Deoarece muli factori nu sunt
cunoscui detaliat, proiectarea unei astfel de
centrale este dificil. Debitul de ap cald de
consum, parametrii consumului etc. n general nu
sunt calculai n detaliu nici chiar n cazul mai
simplu al centralelor termice. Din acest motiv,
dup ce proiectul iniial a fost realizat, toi
parametrii au fost urmrii n timp, i dup un an
de supraveghere si control, s-a fcut reevaluarea
acestora. Inaugurarea acestei centrale a fost fcut
la 8 iunie 1999 i mai mult de un an au fost
supravegheate i controlate consumul i
parametrii de lucru, pentru a se vedea ct de exact
au fost estimate iniial. Dup ce centrala a fost
pus n funciune, toat atenia a fost ndreptat
spre stabilirea punctului optim de funcionare al
instalaiei.
Stabilirea parametrilor optimi se face la ncrcare
maxim atunci cnd se poate considera
concentraia soluiei srace de bromur de litiu
este optim. Din pcate pn n prezent
ncrcarea maxim atins a fost de 600 700kW.
Sarcina solicitat este variabil n timpul zilei.
Dup orele 17.00 sarcina de frig este foarte mic,
singura ncpere care mai solicit climatizare
fiind centrul informatic.

About three years ago, when the first

investigations of district cooling were initiated.
Copenhagen Energy, Egmont, a major business
property offered to experiment it (figure 5). An
absorption - cooling machine with a maximum
output of approximately 1200 kW was
established as necessary. Because many factors
are uncertain it is difficult to provide specific
documentation for existing cooling plants and
pipelines. Water flow, consumption patterns etc.
are rarely calculated in detail, not even in the case
of heating plants. For this case after a year all was
reassessed.
The inauguration of the plant was made on June 8
th 1999 and it has been a special interest to follow
the cooling consumption over the year.
It was necessary to see how the maximum power
demand corresponded to the estimated values.
After the machine was put into operation in
oreder to ensure cooling, all attention was
focused on finding the correct adjustment of the
machine. That was made at maximum load, when
it can be assessed if the proportion of water to
lithium bromide is correct. Unfortunately, until
now, the maximum load has been about 600700kW for a short period of time. The load is
largely fluctuating during the day.
The cooling load after 5pm is a very small one.
Only the computer room needs cooling (about
30kW).
To prevent frequent starts and stops of the
machine during the night, a compressor has been
integrated into the control.

Figura 5. Schema instalaiei utilizate pentru cldirea Egmont-Copenhaga

1-Absorbitor; 2-Turn de rcire; 3 i 4 Compresoare
Figure 5. The installation diagram apllied for Egmont Building in Copenhagen
1-Absorber; 2-Cooling tower; 3 i 4 Compressors

Pentru a preveni situaia opririi/pornirii frecvente

n timpul nopii, se utilizeaz un compresor.
Interesul este acela de a menine n funciune
maina frigorific cu absorbie ct mai mult timp
cu putin pentru a putea funciona n regim de
cogenerare. Rezultatele arat c maina
frigorific pornete i se oprete periodic n cazul
sarcinilor reduse, deci cu eficien sczut n
perioada sear noapte.
n perioada de var necesarul de frig solicitat de
consumatori este constant i important dar mai
sunt necesare investigaii. Apa fierbinte este
asigurat prin intermediul unui schimbtor de
cldur abur-ap (DV1 figura 5). Exist i
posibilitatea funcionarii la ali parametrii, dar
acetia urmeaz a fi determinai. Mai mult,
reglarea pompelor de ap rece, a turnului de
rcire etc. trebuie optimizat n vederea reducerii
la minimum a consumurilor energetice.
Datorit funcionarii cu diferene de temperatur
extrem de mici, au fost testate diferite sisteme de
izolare a conductelor n vederea alegerii celui
optim. De asemenea tratarea apei n turnul de
rcire trebuie s fie corespunztoare pentru
evitarea formrii depunerilor.
Un alt factor important este riscul de cristalizare.
El apare atunci cnd suprafeele cu soluie Br-Li
de concentraie mai ridicat sunt supuse unor

The major interest is to keep the absorption

machine operating as long as possible to obtain
data on pure district heating operation.
The results show that in case of smaller loads, the
machine starts and stops periodically and the
reduced efficiency is detecting during the evening
night. In the summer period the cooling supply
to the customers has been stable and reliable, but
many aspects remain to be investigated. The hot
water supply (90oC) was assured from a steam
exchanger (DV1 figure 5).
There is the possibility of working with different
temperature sets. Those remain to be investigated.
Furthermore, the regulation of cold water pumps,
cooling tower etc. must be optimized with a view
to reducing the use of electricity for pumping to a
minimum. Because very small temperature
differences are involved, different insulation
systems for the cooling pipes have been tested
and shall be evaluated. Also, the water treatment
in the cooling tower must be optimal to avoid
deposition of lime in the system. Another
important factor is the risk of crystallization. The
risk of crystallization arises when areas with a
high solution of lithium bromide are exposed to
low temperatures in the area where the rich
solution is to be sent through the exchanger on to
the absorber.

temperaturi mai sczute, adic n zona dintre

schimbtor ctre absorbitor.
n aceast zona de trecere, temperatura este
redus, concentraia ridicat i energia se
transfer soluiei care urmeaz s ajung n
fierbtor (generator).
n vederea limitrii riscului de cristalizare
condiia care se pune iniial este de a gsi punctul
n care debitul de ap rece al evaporatorului este
relativ sczut.
Dac pompele condensatorului nu se opresc n
timpul perioadei rece poate apare riscul ca soluia
concentrat de bromur de litiu s se rceasc att
de mult nct s se solidifice.
De asemenea, n cazul mainilor frigorifice cu
absorbie n soluie BrLi- apa este foarte
important vacuumul.
Dac vacuumul nu este perfect aceasta poate
cauza reduceri ale eficienei.
7. Concluzii
Aceast central de trigenerare aduce noi relaii
despre o nou lume energetic. Putem nva
din toate acestea i poate ntr-o bun zi va fi
posibil aplicarea trigenerrii i n Romnia n
condiiile reabilitrii sistemului de termoficare.
Trigenerarea reprezint o soluie complementar
cogenerrii pentru producerea eficient a energiei.
Acolo unde este corect gndit (ceea ce depinde
n mare msur de corelaia ntre necesarul de
energie al consumatorului i posibilitile de
funcionare a instalaiei) aceste sisteme au
dovedit randamente foarte bune. De altfel
rentabilitatea i flexibilitatea unei astfel de
instalaii se ctig nc din faza de concepie i
alegere a echipamentelor.
Trigeneration une technique moderne de perspective
Rsum:

La trigeneration est un concept qui signifie lassociation de deux techniques aujourdhui bien connues: la
cognration (production combine de chaleur et de force motrice) et la production du froid par absorption ou par
compression. Le concept de base, qui permet son dveloppement, rside dans la recherch dune grande flexibilit
de lemploi de lnergie thermique issue dun cycle de cognration. La perspective dutiliser toute ou partie de
lnergie thermique ou mcanique pour faire du froid ouvre des horizons nouveaux aussi pour la Roumanie.

Bibliografie:
[1].LESCURE MARC La trigeneration une technique davenir CVC mars 1998, pag. 20-23
[2].REY F. Les installations denergie totale Chaud, Froid,Plomberie no.377/1998, pag. 45-55
[3].MAGNUS F., JOERGENSEN H.P. Tri generation combined cogeneration and cooling DBDH 4/2001,pag 12-13
[4].MORTEN SKOV, MAGNUS FOGED Experience in district cooling in Copenhagen DBDH 1/2001, pag. 18-20

In this area the temperature has decreased, the

concentration is high and the energy has been
transferred to the solution which sent to the
boiler. For limitation of the crystallization risk, a
precondition is that the vacuum is in order at set
point and that there is a reasonable flow of
cooling water through the evaporator. Further, a
minimum condenser flow must be maintained
when the machine is operating. If the condenser
pumps are not stopped during low cooling there
will be the risk that the high solution of lithium
bromide is cooled so much that will crystallize.
The crystallized lithium bromide looks like a
common salt when the pressure and the
temperature are sufficiently low and if the pipes
are not completely blocked, its not a major
problem to dissolve it. Also the vacuum is very
important. If the vacuum is not perfect this may
cause a decrease in the yield and the efficiency.
7. Conclusions
This test plant was established under difficult
space conditions and people have acquired some
knowledge of a new energy world.
We can learn about it and maybe some day an
application of this tri-generation could also be
achieved in Romania.
Trigeneration represents a complementary
solution for efficient production of heat, cool and
power.
The efficiency of a trigeneration system depends
on an optimal conception (in fact an accurate
estimation of heat, cool and power demands of
the consumers).