Week 3: Deep-Dive Tech Profiles - CHP vs. Thermal Battery Analysis
This week I dove deep into the technical specifications of different CHP technologies and how they stack up against thermal batteries. The goal was to build comprehensive profiles for each technology type so we can identify the best replacement opportunities.
Main Goals
- Create detailed technical sheets for all major CHP prime mover types
- Research capacity ranges, efficiency curves, and heat-to-power ratios for each technology
- Build a standardized comparison framework between CHP systems and thermal batteries
- Identify preliminary scenarios where thermal batteries have clear advantages
What I Completed
- Compiled one-page technical profiles for six CHP categories: boiler/steam turbines, gas turbines, reciprocating engines, microturbines, back-pressure steam, and fuel cells
- Analyzed efficiency data and found heat-to-power ratios ranging from 1.2:1 for gas turbines up to 4.5:1 for back-pressure steam systems
- Researched lifetime expectations and installation costs across all prime mover classes
- Created a standardized MW-basis comparison framework that works for both legacy CHP and thermal battery systems
- Started identifying "easy-win" replacement cases where the economics clearly favor thermal batteries
Key Insights The variation in heat-to-power ratios across CHP technologies is more significant than I initially expected. Understanding these technical differences is crucial because thermal batteries need to match both the electrical and thermal output of the systems they replace.
Reciprocating engines, which are the most common CHP technology in Michigan, typically operate with H2P ratios between 2.0 and 3.5. This puts them right in the sweet spot for thermal battery replacement, especially older installations where maintenance costs are climbing.
I found that facilities with H2P ratios between 2:1 and 3:1 represent the highest-value replacement targets, combining favorable technical compatibility with strong economic potential.
Chart Generated Heat-to-Power Ratio Distribution - A histogram showing how different CHP technologies cluster around specific H2P ratios, with clear zones highlighted where thermal batteries offer the best replacement economics.
Next Week Start processing the actual facility data with Python scripts to calculate scoring metrics and generate the first round of visualizations for our replacement algorithm.
Building the technical foundation for smart thermal battery deployment