Combined Heat and Power Module

Overview

Users who model building heating systems will need the Combined Heat and Power module. Types of systems could include boilers, cogeneration, heat recovery, and any system that demands/supplies heat energy.

The Combined Heat and Power module adds two thermal loads, the thermal load controller, the boiler component, and the heat recovery ratio parameter in the generator menu.

Details

Thermal Loads

A thermal load can model a building, an industrial process, equipment such as a thermal absorption chiller, and any other system that consumes heat energy. The combined heat and power module adds the parameter "Heat Recovery Ratio" to the generator menu. To set up a combined heat and power system, set this parameter to a number greater than zero.

Boiler Component

If you have a thermal load, you must add a boiler. HOMER does not account for capacity shortage of the thermal load, and so any portion not met will be supplied by the boiler. This is also why the capacity of the boiler is unlimited.

Thermal Load Controller

The thermal load controller converts extra electricity into heat. The option 'do not include thermal load controller in the optimization' will ignore the costs of the thermal load controller and will allow unlimited capacity.