Power System Studies for Cogeneration: What's Really Needed?

To ensure that a cogeneration plant will operate safely, reliably, and economically, power system studies are required during the planning and conceptual design stages of the project as well as periodically throughout the operating life of the plant. The power system studies that are applicable to planned or existing cogeneration facilities are discussed and related to the size and complexity of the plant. Guidance to plant engineers is provided, regarding the scope and usefulness of each study, the expected benefits, and its applicability to system sizes ranging from 100 kW to 50 MW or more. It is concluded that power system studies are an important first step to plant design and can result in capital and operating savings as well as improvement in the overall safety and reliability of the facility. It is also concluded that some studies, although helpful, are not always necessary for small, relatively simple plants.