Detailed thermodynamic investigation of an ICE-driven, natural gas-fueled, 1 kWe micro-CHP generator

•Round-robin testing of a 1 kWe mCHP generator at three independent laboratories.•First and Second law analyses were conducted on steady state measurements.•The system energy efficiency was 23.5 ± 0.4% with a utilization factor of 74.5 ± 3.2%.•The second law total efficiency was 30.2 ± 2.3%.•Sub-component ICE and electric generator analysis were conducted and reported.