This study uses thermoeconomic analyses to compare proposed cogeneration units that use alternative internal combustion engines operating with three possible fuels: natural gas, biogas, or syngas. The technical basis of the study is thermodynamics, which enables the identification of losses and the determination of system efficiency through energy and exergy analyses conducted with the Engineering Equation Solver software. The thermodynamic tools reveal the technical potential of each energy cogeneration unit to assist the economic–technical viability analysis. The study indicates how an energy cogeneration installation with high cooling demand in commercial and industrial enterprises reduces energy costs. In the calculation of the levelized costs of electricity of the cogeneration units, the imputed electricity is the sum of the electricity saved with an absorption chiller with the electrical power produced by motor–generators. This procedure shows that the reuse of heat reduces the cost of electricity, making the hypothetical installations more economically attractive. The levelized costs obtained for syngas and biogas cogeneration units are higher than the levelized cost for the natural gas unit. However, the biogas project stands out since its levelized cost for the cogeneration unit is only six percent higher than the cost obtained for the natural gas cogeneration unit.

这项研究使用热经济学分析方法来比较拟议的热电联产装置，这些热电联产装置使用以三种可能的燃料（天然气，沼气或合成气）运行的替代内燃机。这项研究的技术基础是热力学，它可以通过使用Engineering Equation Solver软件进行的能量和火用分析来识别损失并确定系统效率。热力学工具揭示了每个热电联产装置的技术潜力，可协助进行经济技术可行性分析。研究表明，商业和工业企业中具有高冷却需求的热电联产装置如何降低能源成本。在计算热电联产机组的平均电费时，估算的电是吸收式制冷机与电动发电机产生的电所节省的总电量。该过程表明，热量的再利用降低了电力成本，使假设的装置在经济上更具吸引力。合成气和沼气热电联产装置的平均成本高于天然气装置的平均成本。但是，沼气项目之所以脱颖而出，是因为其热电联产装置的平均成本仅比天然气热电联产装置的成本高出6％。合成气和沼气热电联产装置的平均成本高于天然气装置的平均成本。但是，沼气项目之所以脱颖而出，是因为其热电联产装置的平均成本仅比天然气热电联产装置的成本高出6％。合成气和沼气热电联产装置的平均成本高于天然气装置的平均成本。但是，沼气项目之所以脱颖而出，是因为其热电联产装置的平均成本仅比天然气热电联产装置的成本高出6％。