Effect of the distribution density of biomass combined heat and power plant networks on total energy utilization efficiency

Combined heat and power (CHP) plants fueled by biomass can meet heating and power requirements for cold regions in winter. The objective of this research is to investigate the effect of the distribution density of biomass CHP plant networks on the total (heat and electricity) energy utilization efficiency. The distribution density is determined from the heat transmission threshold. The total energy utilization efficiency is determined from the demand distribution, the output efficiency, and the transmission losses of heat and electricity. To determine a suitable heat transmission threshold, a biomass CHP plant network model is derived to compare various candidate network plans with various heat transmission thresholds. Geographic information system software is employed to calculate the above factors, and the total energy utilization efficiencies of the various plans are compared. The results show that when the heat transmission threshold is low, the plant distribution density is high, and the size (capacity) of the CHP plants is small. Conversely, when the heat transmission threshold is high, the plant density is low and the size of the plants is large. A heat transmission threshold of 10 km results in a plant density that produces the greatest total energy utilization efficiency.