Trigeneration energy system for the campus of the University of Rijeka

The territory of the former Trsat Army Barracks in Rijeka was awarded to the Town of Rijeka to be used expressly for the needs of health care and higher education. In the Detailed Plan of Urban Development (DPUD) for that area (Susak Clinical Hospital Centre and the future University Campus Trsat) the thermo-technical and thermal energy systems for the intended usage of this area are separated and prejudged in the levels of engineering solutions. To no useful purpose, the plan foresees two autonomous systems: (a) the hospital system at the cogeneration/trigeneration level, (b) the system for the Campus area at the conventional warm water/hot water heating plant. The fact that these systems are located in close proximity of each other further brings into doubt the solution proposed and adopted by the plan. Therefore, the research was made and new solutions prepared. The results of a preliminary study justifying the application of a joint complex municipal thermal power system powered by natural gas for the areas the DPUD covers are elaborated in the paper. The combined thermal power system will serve for heating, steam production, cooling and electrical energy production, primarily for the area of Campus and Clinical Hospital Centre. There is a possibility of increasing the power producing capacity of this combined system for the needs of town consumers, which would make the system more efficient. An analysis has been made based on the guidelines for the thermo-technical and thermal power system adopted by the DPUD, the actual state of the distance heating system, and the need for heating, cooling and electrical energy within and outside the zone covered by the plan. Results point to the need to combine the two systems in order to reach an improved technical solution. The solution proposed will help to increase the efficient use of natural gas, the primary energy source, while reducing operating costs and abating environmental pollution.