Polygeneration performance assessments: multi-dimensional viewpoint

Performance metrics of a system with single input and single output is straight forward and is generally termed as ‘efficiency’. However, for systems with multiple outputs, defined performance metrics has to include effects of all outputs on a rational basis. For systems with both multiple inputs and outputs such definition is even more complicated. Polygeneration is the integration of multiple utility outputs with one or more inputs for better performance. The better performance may again be assessed from different aspects, e.g., thermodynamic, economic, social, etc. Performance metrics of polygeneration is not unique. It depends on type of systems as well as objective of evaluation of it. In this paper, several possible performance parameters for polygeneration are discussed. Evaluation of performance is also tested with multi-dimensional viewpoints. Simulation results of two polygeneration schemes are used to show case studies for these defined performance parameters. Relative performance of polygeneration schemes with different fuel inputs is presented to show the performance variation of these schemes with multi-dimensional viewpoints.