What is CHP?
Combined heat and power (CHP) integrates the production of usable heat and power (electricity), in one single, highly efficient process. CHP generates electricity whilst also capturing usable heat that is produced in this process. This contrasts with conventional ways of generating electricity where vast amounts of heat is simply wasted. In today’s coal and gas fired power stations, up to two thirds of the overall energy consumed is lost in this way, often seen as a cloud of steam rising from cooling towers. As an energy generation process, CHP is fuel neutral. This means that a CHP process can be applied to both renewable and fossil fuels. The specific technologies employed, and the efficiencies they achieve will vary, but in every situation CHP offers the capability to make more efficient and effective use of valuable primary energy resources.
HP plants provide local heat, electricity and sometimes even cooling to various types of users. Because the energy is produced locally, CHP has the added benefit of avoiding efficiency losses incurred through transmission and distribution of electricity through the National Grid and local distribution networks. Around 7% of energy would usually be lost when the network is used to transport energy from the generation source to the user. When taking account of these losses, the respective efficiencies of both coal and CCGT plant fall further at the point of use. We provide customized CHP package proposals, including the required mechanical equipment and controls to capture and transfer the engine thermal energy to an industrial facility. The total energy cost savings of such systems can more than offset the total owning and operating costs, delivering a payback in as little as two to three years, depending on local energy pricing and feed-in tarrifs. |
CHP Aspects
Whereas separate grid electricity and natural gas boilers often provide less than 50 percent efficiency, CHP projects offer:
• Energy efficiency up to 90 percent
• Reduced energy costs versus separate heat and electrical generation systems
• Reduced emissions versus separate heat and electrical generation systems
• Where the capture and use of waste heat is not viable, many industrial facilities may still benefit financially via distributed generation (DG), or locally producing power to meet one's own requirements, or via a standby power plant. This is especially true when any of the following apply:
• The local electric grid is unreliable
• Natural gas is an inexpensive alternative to grid electricity
• Generators can be applied during peak times of day to avoid high electrical utility demand charges (also know as peak shaving)
• Energy efficiency up to 90 percent
• Reduced energy costs versus separate heat and electrical generation systems
• Reduced emissions versus separate heat and electrical generation systems
• Where the capture and use of waste heat is not viable, many industrial facilities may still benefit financially via distributed generation (DG), or locally producing power to meet one's own requirements, or via a standby power plant. This is especially true when any of the following apply:
• The local electric grid is unreliable
• Natural gas is an inexpensive alternative to grid electricity
• Generators can be applied during peak times of day to avoid high electrical utility demand charges (also know as peak shaving)
How does it work?
A gas turbine (GT) is an internal combustion engine that utilizes a continuous combustion process. An industrial gas turbine produces torque to drive another rotating mechanical or electrical device. The torque is used to drive an electric generator for producing electric power. Additionally, the exhaust from the industrial gas turbine can be recovered, which as part of a CHP process, is used to deliver heating, cooling and/or additional power.
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