Design parameters influencing the operation of a CHP plant within a micro-grid: Application of the ANOVA test

Combined heat and power systems are widely recognized as a cost-effective solution for the achievement of sustainable and energy efficiency goals. During the last decade, cogeneration systems have been extensively studied from both the technological and operational viewpoints. However, the operation of a cogeneration system is a topic still worth of investigation. In fact, along with the determination of the optimal configurations of the combined heat and power systems, it is likewise fundamental to increase the awareness on the design and cost parameters affecting the operation of cogeneration systems, especially if considering the micro-grid in which they are inserted. In this direction, this paper proposed a mixed integer linear programming model with the objective of minimizing the total operational costs of the micro-grid. Different scenarios include the satisfaction of the cooling demands of the micro-grid as well as the opportuneness to include a heat storage. The influence of the main design and cost parameters on the operation of the micro-grid has been assessed by adopting the statistical tool ANOVA (Analysis Of Variance). The model and the experimental application of the ANOVA have been applied to a micro-grid serving a hospital located in the South of Italy.