What are combined heat and power systems?
The CHP unit is a very effective technology that produces heat and electricity simultaneously in a single process. The system is built up of one or two ‘prime movers’ that drive electric generators. The heat that is produced by the generator is recovered using special heat recovery equipment and used for community heating. Central to CHP’s efficiency are its heat recovery systems and the way that it avoids transmission losses. These units help CHP systems to achieve a 35 per cent reduction in primary energy consumption compared with conventional supplies. They also achieve a 30 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared with coal-fired power station methods, and 10 per cent compared with gas-fired combined cycle gas turbines. The CHP consists of several key components, which are: • Prime mover: an engine to drive the generator; • Fuel system; • Generator: produces electricity, which is fed into the power distribution system; • Heat recovery system: to recover usable heat f
