Reciprocating engines produce electricity using a combustible fuel and generator. In addition to producing electricity, useful heat can be recovered from the exhaust gas using a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), or heat recovery system for hot water. Heat can also be recovered from the lubricating oil cooler, the jacket water cooler and/or the charge air cooler, and this recovered "waste" heat can be provided to a heating load. In this case, the reciprocating engine power plant would be operating in a Combined Heat & Power (CHP) or cogeneration mode. The energy performance of a reciprocating engine is influenced by a number of factors such as the type of fuel, the reciprocating engine power capacity, minimum capacity, availability, heat rate and heat recovery efficiency. Refer to the Reciprocating Engine Schematic for more information.

Software & Data
The RETScreen Software Reciprocating Engine Model can be used worldwide to evaluate the energy production and savings, costs, emission reductions, financial viability and risk for central-grid, isolated-grid and off-grid reciprocating engine projects, ranging in size from large scale natural gas-fired multi-engine power plants, to distributed power systems located on institutional and commercial buildings and at industrial facilities, to remote genset power supplies. In addition, landfill gas production can be estimated using an advanced landfill gas tool, and a biogas tool is provided to calculate the amount of biogas produced by the biological decomposition of various wastes. The software (available in multiple languages) also includes product, project and climate databases, and a detailed user manual.

Click here to download RETScreen 4 (36 MB).

Case studies / Templates
Cooling, heating & power - Recip engine - Abs. - 450 kW - Natural gas / USA
Cooling, heating & power - Recip engine - Abs. - 1,800 kW - Diesel (#2 oil)/USA
Combined heating & power - Reciprocating engine - 50 kW - Biogas / Canada
Combined heating & power - Reciprocating engine - 65 kW - Biogas / Canada
Combined heating & power - Reciprocating engine - 625 kW - Biogas / Thailand
Power - Reciprocating engine - 100 kW - Biogas
Power - Reciprocating engine - 1,300 kW - Landfill gas / Norway
Power - Reciprocating engine - 6,000 kW - Landfill gas
Power - Reciprocating engine - 12,000 kW - Landfill gas / Brazil