GENERATOR:MICROTURBINE

MicroTurbine generators are small combustion turbines (e.g., 25kW to 500kW). The model calculates electrical power output, fuel use, standby and ancillary power. Energy recovery from exhaust air can be used to heat water.

Name

Type: alphanumeric

Reference Electrical Power Output

Type: real number
Unit: W

Minimum Full Load Electrical Power Output

Type: real number
Unit: W
Minimum: 0.0
Default: 0.0

Maximum Full Load Electrical Power Output

Type: real number
If left blank, Maximum Full Load Electrical Power Output will be set equal to the Reference Electrical Power Output.
Unit: W

Reference Electrical Efficiency Using Lower Heating Value

Type: real number
Electric power output divided by fuel energy input (LHV basis) at reference conditions.
Maximum: 1.0

Reference Combustion Air Inlet Temperature

Type: real number
Unit: C
Default: 15.0

Reference Combustion Air Inlet Humidity Ratio

Type: real number
Unit: kgWater/kgDryAir
Default: 0.00638

Reference Elevation

Type: real number
Unit: m
Minimum: -300.0
Default: 0.0

Electrical Power Function of Temperature and Elevation Curve Name

Type: list of objects (TABLE:LOOKUP, CURVE:BICUBIC, CURVE:BIQUADRATIC, CURVE:QUADRATICLINEAR, CURVE:CUBICLINEAR or CURVE:FANPRESSURERISE)
Curve = a + b*T + c*T**2 + d*Elev + e*Elev**2 + f*T*Elev T = combustion air inlet temperature (C) Elev = elevation (m)

Electrical Efficiency Function of Temperature Curve Name

Type: list of objects (CURVE:QUADRATIC, CURVE:RECTANGULARHYPERBOLA1, TABLE:LOOKUP, CURVE:RECTANGULARHYPERBOLA2, CURVE:CUBIC, CURVE:FUNCTIONAL:PRESSUREDROP, CURVE:EXPONENT, CURVE:LINEAR, CURVE:QUARTIC, CURVE:EXPONENTIALSKEWNORMAL, CURVE:SIGMOID, CURVE:DOUBLEEXPONENTIALDECAY or CURVE:EXPONENTIALDECAY)
Quadratic curve = a + b*T + c*T**2 Cubic curve = a + b*T + c*T**2 + d*T**3 T = combustion air inlet temperature (C)

Electrical Efficiency Function of Part Load Ratio Curve Name

Type: list of objects (CURVE:QUADRATIC, CURVE:RECTANGULARHYPERBOLA1, TABLE:LOOKUP, CURVE:RECTANGULARHYPERBOLA2, CURVE:CUBIC, CURVE:FUNCTIONAL:PRESSUREDROP, CURVE:EXPONENT, CURVE:LINEAR, CURVE:QUARTIC, CURVE:EXPONENTIALSKEWNORMAL, CURVE:SIGMOID, CURVE:DOUBLEEXPONENTIALDECAY or CURVE:EXPONENTIALDECAY)
Quadratic curve = a + b*PLR + c*PLR**2 Cubic curve = a + b*PLR + c*PLR**2 + d*PLR**3 PLR = ratio of Generator Load to steady state Electrical Power Output at current operating conditions

Fuel Type

Type: choice (NaturalGas or Propane)
Default: NaturalGas

Fuel Higher Heating Value

Type: real number
Unit: kJ/kg
Default: 50000

Fuel Lower Heating Value

Type: real number
Unit: kJ/kg
Default: 45450

Standby Power

Type: real number
Electric power consumed when the generator is available but not being called by the Electric Load Center.
Unit: W
Minimum: 0.0
Default: 0.0

Ancillary Power

Type: real number
Electric power consumed by ancillary equipment (e.g., external fuel pressurization pump). Set to zero if Reference Electrical Power Output is the 'net' value (ancillary power already deducted). Input value is positive, but indicates negative electric generation.
Unit: W
Minimum: 0.0
Default: 0.0

Ancillary Power Function of Fuel Input Curve Name

Type: list of objects (CURVE:QUADRATIC, CURVE:RECTANGULARHYPERBOLA1, TABLE:LOOKUP, CURVE:RECTANGULARHYPERBOLA2, CURVE:CUBIC, CURVE:FUNCTIONAL:PRESSUREDROP, CURVE:EXPONENT, CURVE:LINEAR, CURVE:QUARTIC, CURVE:EXPONENTIALSKEWNORMAL, CURVE:SIGMOID, CURVE:DOUBLEEXPONENTIALDECAY or CURVE:EXPONENTIALDECAY)
Quadratic curve = a + b*mdot + c*mdot**2 mdot = fuel mass flow rate (kg/s) If left blank, model assumes ancillary power defined in previous field is constant whenever the generator is operating.

Heat Recovery Water Inlet Node Name

Type: node

Heat Recovery Water Outlet Node Name

Type: node

Reference Thermal Efficiency Using Lower Heat Value

Type: real number
Reference thermal efficiency (heat recovery to water) based on the Lower Heating Value (LHV) of the fuel.
Minimum: 0.0
Maximum: 1.0
Default: 0.0

Reference Inlet Water Temperature

Type: real number
Unit: C

Heat Recovery Water Flow Operating Mode

Type: choice (PlantControl or InternalControl)
PlantControl means the heat recovery water flow rate is determined by the plant, but the user needs to supply a heat recovery water flow rate. InternalControl means the heat recovery water flow rate is controlled by this generator. If 'InternalControl' is selected, then the user needs to supply a reference heat recovery water flow rate and optionally the name of a heat recovery flow rate modifier curve.
Default: PlantControl

Reference Heat Recovery Water Flow Rate

Type: real number
Unit: m3/s

Heat Recovery Water Flow Rate Function of Temperature and Power Curve Name

Type: list of objects (TABLE:LOOKUP, CURVE:BICUBIC, CURVE:BIQUADRATIC, CURVE:QUADRATICLINEAR, CURVE:CUBICLINEAR or CURVE:FANPRESSURERISE)
Curve = a + b*T + c*T**2 + d*Pnet + e*Pnet + f*T*Pnet T = heat recovery inlet water temperature Pnet = net power output = electric power output - ancillary power If left blank, model assumes the heat recovery water flow rate is constant whenever the generator is operating, at the Reference HR Water Flow Rate defined in the previous field.

Thermal Efficiency Function of Temperature and Elevation Curve Name

Type: list of objects (TABLE:LOOKUP, CURVE:BICUBIC, CURVE:BIQUADRATIC, CURVE:QUADRATICLINEAR, CURVE:CUBICLINEAR or CURVE:FANPRESSURERISE)
Bicubic curve = a + b*T + c*T**2 + d*Elev + e*Elev**2 + f*T*Elev + g*T**3 + h*Elev**3 + i*T**2*Elev + j*T*Elev**2 Biquadratic curve = a + b*T + c*T**2 + d*Elev + e*Elev**2 + f*T*Elev T = combustion air inlet temperature (C) Elev = elevation (m) If field is left blank, model assumes this modifier equals 1 for entire simulation.

Heat Recovery Rate Function of Part Load Ratio Curve Name

Type: list of objects (CURVE:QUADRATIC, CURVE:RECTANGULARHYPERBOLA1, TABLE:LOOKUP, CURVE:RECTANGULARHYPERBOLA2, CURVE:CUBIC, CURVE:FUNCTIONAL:PRESSUREDROP, CURVE:EXPONENT, CURVE:LINEAR, CURVE:QUARTIC, CURVE:EXPONENTIALSKEWNORMAL, CURVE:SIGMOID, CURVE:DOUBLEEXPONENTIALDECAY or CURVE:EXPONENTIALDECAY)
Quadratic curve = a + b*PLR + c*PLR**2 Cubic curve = a + b*PLR + c*PLR**2 + d*PLR**3 PLR = ratio of Generator Load to steady state Electrical Power Output at current operating conditions If field is left blank, model assumes this modifier equals 1 for entire simulation.

Heat Recovery Rate Function of Inlet Water Temperature Curve Name

Type: list of objects (CURVE:QUADRATIC, CURVE:RECTANGULARHYPERBOLA1, TABLE:LOOKUP, CURVE:RECTANGULARHYPERBOLA2, CURVE:CUBIC, CURVE:FUNCTIONAL:PRESSUREDROP, CURVE:EXPONENT, CURVE:LINEAR, CURVE:QUARTIC, CURVE:EXPONENTIALSKEWNORMAL, CURVE:SIGMOID, CURVE:DOUBLEEXPONENTIALDECAY or CURVE:EXPONENTIALDECAY)
Quadratic curve = a + b*T + c*T**2 T = inlet water temperature (C) If field is left blank, model assumes this modifier equals 1 for entire simulation.

Heat Recovery Rate Function of Water Flow Rate Curve Name

Type: list of objects (CURVE:QUADRATIC, CURVE:RECTANGULARHYPERBOLA1, TABLE:LOOKUP, CURVE:RECTANGULARHYPERBOLA2, CURVE:CUBIC, CURVE:FUNCTIONAL:PRESSUREDROP, CURVE:EXPONENT, CURVE:LINEAR, CURVE:QUARTIC, CURVE:EXPONENTIALSKEWNORMAL, CURVE:SIGMOID, CURVE:DOUBLEEXPONENTIALDECAY or CURVE:EXPONENTIALDECAY)
Quadratic curve = a + b*Flow + c*Flow**2 Flow = flow rate of water through the heat exchanger (m3/s) If field is left blank, model assumes this modifier equals 1 for entire simulation.

Minimum Heat Recovery Water Flow Rate

Type: real number
Unit: m3/s
Minimum: 0.0
Default: 0.0

Maximum Heat Recovery Water Flow Rate

Type: real number
Unit: m3/s
Minimum: 0.0
Default: 0.0

Maximum Heat Recovery Water Temperature

Type: real number
Unit: C

Combustion Air Inlet Node Name

Type: node
Must be an outdoor air node.

Combustion Air Outlet Node Name

Type: node

Reference Exhaust Air Mass Flow Rate

Type: real number
Unit: kg/s

Exhaust Air Flow Rate Function of Temperature Curve Name

Type: list of objects (CURVE:QUADRATIC, CURVE:RECTANGULARHYPERBOLA1, TABLE:LOOKUP, CURVE:RECTANGULARHYPERBOLA2, CURVE:CUBIC, CURVE:FUNCTIONAL:PRESSUREDROP, CURVE:EXPONENT, CURVE:LINEAR, CURVE:QUARTIC, CURVE:EXPONENTIALSKEWNORMAL, CURVE:SIGMOID, CURVE:DOUBLEEXPONENTIALDECAY or CURVE:EXPONENTIALDECAY)
Quadratic curve = a + b*T + c*T**2 Cubic curve = a + b*T + c*T**2 + d*T**3 T = combustion air inlet temperature (C) If field is left blank, model assumes this modifier equals 1 for entire simulation.

Exhaust Air Flow Rate Function of Part Load Ratio Curve Name

Type: list of objects (CURVE:QUADRATIC, CURVE:RECTANGULARHYPERBOLA1, TABLE:LOOKUP, CURVE:RECTANGULARHYPERBOLA2, CURVE:CUBIC, CURVE:FUNCTIONAL:PRESSUREDROP, CURVE:EXPONENT, CURVE:LINEAR, CURVE:QUARTIC, CURVE:EXPONENTIALSKEWNORMAL, CURVE:SIGMOID, CURVE:DOUBLEEXPONENTIALDECAY or CURVE:EXPONENTIALDECAY)
Quadratic curve = a + b*PLR + c*PLR**2 Cubic curve = a + b*PLR + c*PLR**2 + d*PLR**3 PLR = ratio of Generator Load to steady state Electrical Power Output at current operating conditions. If field is left blank, model assumes this modifier equals 1 for entire simulation.

Nominal Exhaust Air Outlet Temperature

Type: real number
Exhaust air outlet temperature at reference conditions.

Exhaust Air Temperature Function of Temperature Curve Name

Type: list of objects (CURVE:QUADRATIC, CURVE:RECTANGULARHYPERBOLA1, TABLE:LOOKUP, CURVE:RECTANGULARHYPERBOLA2, CURVE:CUBIC, CURVE:FUNCTIONAL:PRESSUREDROP, CURVE:EXPONENT, CURVE:LINEAR, CURVE:QUARTIC, CURVE:EXPONENTIALSKEWNORMAL, CURVE:SIGMOID, CURVE:DOUBLEEXPONENTIALDECAY or CURVE:EXPONENTIALDECAY)
Quadratic curve = a + b*T + c*T**2 Cubic curve = a + b*T + c*T**2 + d*T**3 T = combustion air inlet temperature (C) If field is left blank, model assumes this modifier equals 1 for entire simulation.

Exhaust Air Temperature Function of Part Load Ratio Curve Name

Type: list of objects (CURVE:QUADRATIC, CURVE:RECTANGULARHYPERBOLA1, TABLE:LOOKUP, CURVE:RECTANGULARHYPERBOLA2, CURVE:CUBIC, CURVE:FUNCTIONAL:PRESSUREDROP, CURVE:EXPONENT, CURVE:LINEAR, CURVE:QUARTIC, CURVE:EXPONENTIALSKEWNORMAL, CURVE:SIGMOID, CURVE:DOUBLEEXPONENTIALDECAY or CURVE:EXPONENTIALDECAY)
Quadratic curve = a + b*PLR + c*PLR**2 Cubic curve = a + b*PLR + c*PLR**2 + d*PLR**3 PLR = ratio of Generator Load to steady state Electrical Power Output at current operating conditions. If field is left blank, model assumes this modifier equals 1 for entire simulation.