Keywords
trigeneration, material flow analysis, environmental costs, umberto software
Start Date
1-7-2010 12:00 AM
Abstract
Directive COM 2002/91/EC recognized the importance of buildings in theconsumption of energy, helping promote a stable framework for the support ofcogeneration in the European Union. Cogeneration and Trigeneration can providesubstantial benefits from economic, energetic, and environmental viewpoints. The Umbertosoftware is used to model a trigeneration system providing electricity, heat, and cooling toa building, revealing important relevant structures and flows. The software’s basis rests onPetri networks and double-entry bookkeeping and cost accounting, allowing the setup ofcomplex systems and also a combined material, energy and inventory calculation. Umbertosoftware is an Industrial Environmental Management Information System, specificallydesigned to analyze the distribution of material and energy resources throughout aproductive system. Each piece of equipment is modeled as a transition (indicating materialor energy transformations) and is specified utilizing user-defined functions (technicalproduction coefficients and generation of emissions). Network parameters were used tocalculate the emissions associated with the operation of the system. From the perspective ofMaterial Flow Networks, arrows are viewed as accounts of material and energy flows, andplaces keep track of all relevant stocks. Costs are understood as the amount of emissionsgenerated (according to the consumption of resources) in order to obtain a flow. The issueof allocating environmental costs is introduced and two scenarios for each operationalmode are compared: the trigeneration system vs. a conventional energy supply system.
Modeling a simple trigeneration system: Environmental costs
Directive COM 2002/91/EC recognized the importance of buildings in theconsumption of energy, helping promote a stable framework for the support ofcogeneration in the European Union. Cogeneration and Trigeneration can providesubstantial benefits from economic, energetic, and environmental viewpoints. The Umbertosoftware is used to model a trigeneration system providing electricity, heat, and cooling toa building, revealing important relevant structures and flows. The software’s basis rests onPetri networks and double-entry bookkeeping and cost accounting, allowing the setup ofcomplex systems and also a combined material, energy and inventory calculation. Umbertosoftware is an Industrial Environmental Management Information System, specificallydesigned to analyze the distribution of material and energy resources throughout aproductive system. Each piece of equipment is modeled as a transition (indicating materialor energy transformations) and is specified utilizing user-defined functions (technicalproduction coefficients and generation of emissions). Network parameters were used tocalculate the emissions associated with the operation of the system. From the perspective ofMaterial Flow Networks, arrows are viewed as accounts of material and energy flows, andplaces keep track of all relevant stocks. Costs are understood as the amount of emissionsgenerated (according to the consumption of resources) in order to obtain a flow. The issueof allocating environmental costs is introduced and two scenarios for each operationalmode are compared: the trigeneration system vs. a conventional energy supply system.
