Microcogeneration with Stirling Engine and Solar Power: Energetic Balance in Mediterranean Climate

This paper analyzes the viability of a new microcogeneration system with a Stirling engine micro-CHP (combined heat and power) and renewable solar energy: thermal and photovoltaic system, using accumulation system for hot water and ion lithium batteries for electricity. A weather station gives real meteorological parameters for Mediterranean climate (Málaga, Spain). A control unit permits to have a full automated system, which works according to a flowchart. This controller also allows theorizing a demand profile curve of daily consumption, typical for this or other climates. Many studies analyse different kinds of combined systems by simulating or making the real installation to obtain results for either microcogeneration or solar power, but not together, e.g. central heating applications to obtain a constant consumption of hot water. This new system shows a new combination of resources (natural gas in Stirling and solar energy systems), and the implementation allows doing experiments with different profiles of consumption to have real, non-theoretical, results. The control system is self-governing: it connects the different supplies of energy (solar thermal, photovoltaic, Stirling or batteries) depending on the demand, this demand can be changed by simulating any profile: domestic (heat and power), business, low thermal demand, low electricity demand, etc.