What is Cogeneration?
Simply put, Cogeneration (CHP) Systems use a single fuel source (diesel, natural gas, syngas and in some cases, biofuels) in a combustion engine to generate electricity.
The excess heat generated by the engine is then captured and recycled for use in creating hot water or steam for uses such as heating/cooling for the facility or for domestic hot water. Using this system reduces/removes the need for extra equipment that would otherwise generate more waste and use up expenses that could be used elsewhere.
Different applications are designed by Powergen's Engineering team to fit the needs of each facility
Here are a few Examples:
Trigeneration (CCHP) is like Cogeneration in that excess heat is captured and recycled and used for various needs of a facility, but TriGen utilizes additional equipment, like an absorption chiller that is linked to the unit generating chilled water for utilities such as air conditioning or refrigeration.
Trigeneration’s coolant does not produce harmful chemical pollutants since water is used.
Viability of CHP Technology
CHP systems have extensively proven themselves in the abroad for over a decade and have gathered a large amount of support from the EU with the creation of the European Association for the Promotion of CoGeneration, which has promoted CoGeneration to EU member states extensively. The EU's Capital country Belgium is also set to close all of its Nuclear Reactors and replace them with CHP systems by 2025, with an additional capacity of 1,000 MW to the country (from CHP).
In the United States, CHP was first used in Thomas Edison's Pearl Street Station from 1882, the world's first commercial power plant. During the early-mid 1900's certain regulations were set in place that discouraged decentralized power generation, like CHP. By 1978 the value of decentralized power generation systems was recognized and these regulations have been rolled back in most States. Seeing the potential, the US Department of Energy has the goal of making CHP constitute 20% of the US' generation capacity by 2030.
Both CoGeneration and TriGeneration are tested and proven and tested systems that are widely used across the Globe in facilities ranging from Hotels, Apartment Buildings, and Hospitals, to Casinos, Military facilities, and other continuous use buildings. For heating, in Manhattan alone, the peak hourly delivery is 10 million pounds of steam per hour.