Combined Heat and Power
CHP systems can also provide cooling through the use of absorption chillers that utilise heat as their energy source.
Traditionally, CHP systems involve the use of a reciprocating piston engine (of the same type as you would find in van or lorry), fuelled by gas, to spin a generator thus producing electricity. The heat from the engine water cooling and exhaust are used to produce hot water, via heat exchangers. NewEnCo supplies a range of traditional reciprocating CHP packages.
The Turbec T100 package differs from traditional CHP because the engine is a gas turbine rather than a piston engine. The technology uses a gas combustion process to propel a turbine at high speed. This turbine then rotates an alternator which generates electricity. The hot gases from the combustion process then pass through a water filled heat exchanger which produces hot water.
Why use Combined Heat and Power (CHP) ?
The benefits of CHP when compared to importing electricity and using boilers to generate heat include;
- Savings on total energy costs for the user
- Improved efficiency of fuel use
- Reduced emissions
- Independence & security of power supply
- Exemption from the Climate Change Levy for energy costs.
The UK Government is committed to increasing the country`s CHP capacity and it forms a key element of it`s strategy to reduce the country greenhouse gas emissions. It is widely predicted that further legislation and incentives will be introduced in the near future to encourage the use of CHP.