Energy and exergy efficiencies of a real CHP integrated ceramic factory

Abstract

This study investigates the energy and exergy efficiency results of a cogeneration system in a ceramic factory based on the results of energy and exergy analysis. The considered ceramic factory located in Izmir, Turkey has 3 gas turbines, 6 spray dryers and 2 heat exchangers. Gas turbines produce electricity by using natural gas as a fuel. All spray dryers are fueled by both natural gas (NG) and exhaust gases of gas turbines. Exhaust gases are also utilized in the heat exchangers. Although all spray dryers are fueled by natural gas during the investigated month, June 2007, only 2 spray dryers were operated by both NG and exhaust gases of gas turbines, other spray dryers were able to oparete by only exhaust gases. Based on the 720 hour data pattern (including 43200 data), the mean energetic and exergetic efficiency values of the cogeneration system are found to be 82.3% and 34.7%, respectively.It was obtained that 53.67% of energy was discharged to the atmosphere through the exhausts of spray dryers and heat exchanger. Total electricity production was found to be 28.6% of total energy supplied. This means that 71.4% of total energy supplied would be thrown if gas turbines could be used only for generating electricity during the period studied