Technology Tuesday: Cogeneration

Good Morning Partners!

How much do you understand about Cogeneration?  Well, if your answer to that question is anything other than, “I know everything there is to know about cogeneration.”  Please, read on!

Cogeneration is also commonly known as Combined Heat and Power (CHP).  This concept is considered highly energy efficient in fact, CHP applications are expected to operate at 65-75% efficiency whereas the national average for similar processes is around 50%.

So, what exactly is CHP and what are these applications we are referring to?  CHP can be implemented at an individual facility or building, or it can be a district energy or utility resource.  It is any system that requires both the generation of electricity or mechanical power and process heat, simultaneously.  What makes this process so much more efficient is that it captures the heat that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere as waste heat and turns it into useful thermal energy.  This can be in the form of steam or hot water which can, in turn, be used for space heating, cooling, domestic hot water, and industrial processes.

The two most common CHP applications are: 1) combustion turbine, or reciprocating engine, with a heat recovery unit; and 2) steam boiler with a steam turbine.  CHP is an excellent example of how to turn wasted energy into productive energy and turn otherwise wasted dollars into savings.

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 Sources:
https://www.energy.gov/eere/amo/combined-heat-and-power-basics
https://www.epa.gov/chp/what-chp
https://www.ge.com/power/applications/chp