Strategy for a Cost Optimized Operation of a Flexible Cogeneration Gas Turbine Plant

Abstract

A new gas turbine cogeneration plant based on the Cheng cycle was installed to supply electricity and heat for the Technische Universität München’s campus site at Garching. To utilize fully the Cheng cycle flexibility, an optimizing system was developed which controls the mode of operation continuously and adapts the point of operation without manual interface. Only with such a system it is possible to exploit the full economic potential of the system. The paper presents the technical framework and some aspects of the control strategy used to minimize the costs based on three years of operating experience.