HEATMAP©CHP - The International Standard for Modeling Combined Heat and Power Systems

Abstract

HEATMAP©CHP is a software tool that can provide a comprehensive simulation of proposed and existing combined heat and power (CHP) plant and system applications, The software model provides a fully integrated analysis of central power production plants that are linked to district energy applications using hot water or steam for heating and/or chilled water-cooling and/or refrigeration connected to a network of buildings or other residential commercial, institutional, or industrial facilities. The program will provide designers, planners. engineers, investors, utilities, and operators with extensive technical, economical, and air emission information about a specific CHP application. The software can also be a valuable tool for community, military, regional, or national planners in defining all aspects of developing, evaluating, and justifying a new CHP project or upgrading an existing thermal system for CHP. Program output may be used to evaluate existing system performance or model the effects of various potential alternative system strategies including upgrades, expansions or conversion of thermal fluids (e.g., steam to hot water). A major feature of the program is its capability to comprehensively analyze a central CHP plant interface application involving thermal storage for both heating and cooling systems in conjunction with various technical distribution parameters covering both the supply and return elements of an extensive piping distribution system. Important features of the software include: the capability to utilize a myriad of fuel and equipment options; determination of air emission impacts that can result from CHP or central energy plant implementation; and the evaluation of extensive economic scenarios including the influence of environmental taxes on a variety of fuel alternatives.