Integrated distributed energy evaluation software (IDEAS): Simulation of a micro-turbine based CHP system

IDEAS was defined in University of Newcastle upon Tyne in United Kingdom as a joint academic-industry project, in order to develop a comprehensive software package for designing, optimizing and monitoring of distributed energy systems based on micro-turbine, fuel cell and internal combustion engine driven systems using fossil fuels and renewables. The IDEAS idea shaped in pursue of a series of actual projects at Research Centre for Innovation and Design (RCID) to suggest the most energy consumption optimized and environmentally friendly distributed CHP system for some new residential complex as well as some academic PhD thesis at Mechanical and Systems engineering department to optimize the performance of gas turbine and micro-turbine driven CHP system for generating power, cooling and heating. Increasing number of CHP equipment suppliers and consultant engineering companies through UK and Europe and approved inspiring short-term and long-term policies of EU for implementing the CHP systems, fascinating successful experiences in some EU countries like Denmark in CHP implementation and lack of a comprehensive European based software package for designing and optimizing of these systems, all supported the idea of developing the IDEAS. IDEAS tends to be a complement to tens of small CHP systems related European software, each has been developed with limited data and a European version of similar powerful non-European (mostly American) software packages. To gain an overview of the difficulties, musts, domain of the package abilities, required financial, human resources and information and also for a better presentation of the idea to absorb supports from both academic and industry possible partners, a micro-turbine driven CHP system was designed for a 71 dwelling residential complex in north of England. This paper presents the works which have been done and yielded results about the requirements of developing IDEAS.