At the site analysed, energy production was supported by a cogeneration system supplemented by boilers and a turboexpander. Operational management was based mainly on ‘thermal tracking’, with the CHP regulated solely according to heat demand.
This approach often led to inefficient operation and did not maximise economic benefits, as it did not take into account electricity demand, energy value and site operating conditions. In addition, the plant was penalised by recurring downtime on the turboexpander speed reducer, with negative effects on reliability and service continuity.