Combined heat and power (CHP), also known as cogeneration, is the simultaneous production of electricity and heat from a single fuel source, such as natural gas, biomass, biogas, coal, waste heat, or oil.

CHP is not a single technology, but an integrated energy system that can be modified depending upon the needs of the energy end user.

CHP provides:

•Onsite generationof electrical and/or mechanical power.

•Waste-heat recoveryfor heating, cooling, dehumidification, or process applications.

•Seamless system integrationfor a variety of technologies, thermal applications, and fuel types into existing building infrastructure.

CHP vs. Separate Heat and Power Production: CHP is the simultaneous production and use of electricity and thermal energy from a single fuel. CHP is inherently more efficient than the separate generation of electricity from central station power plants and thermal energy from boilers or other heating equipment. (Click on the image for an enlarged view.)  

The two most common CHP system configurations are:

•Gas turbineor engine with heat recovery unit.

• Steam boiler withsteam turbine.

Gas turbine or reciprocating engine CHP systems generate electricity by burning fuel (natural gas or biogas) to generate electricity and then use a heat recovery unit to capture heat from the combustion system’s exhaust stream. This heat is converted into useful thermal energy, usually in the form of steam or hot water. Gas turbines/engines are ideally suited for large industrial or commercial CHP applications requiring ample amounts of electricity and heat.

Steam turbines normally generate electricity as a byproduct of heat (steam) generation, unlike gas turbine and reciprocating engine CHP systems, where heat is a byproduct of power generation. Steam turbine-based CHP systems are typically used in industrial processes, where solid fuels (biomass or coal) or waste products are readily available to fuel the boiler unit.

CHP APPLICATIONS

CHP technology exists in a wide variety of energy-intensive facility types and sizes nationwide, including:

• Industrial manufacturers - chemical, refining, ethanol, pulp and paper, food processing, glass manufacturing.

• Institutions - colleges and universities, hospitals, prisons, military bases.

• Commercial buildings - hotels and casinos, airports, high-tech campuses, large office buildings, nursing homes.

• Municipal - district energy systems, wastewater treatment facilities, K-12 schools.

• Residential - multifamily housing, planned communities.

BENEFITS OF CHP

CHP can play an important role in meeting the United States’ energy needs as well as in reducing the environmental impact of power generation, including:

Efficiency Benefits:CHP requires less fuel to produce a given energy output, and avoids transmission and distribution losses that occur when electricity travels over power lines.

Reliability Benefits:CHP can be designed to provide high-quality electricity and thermal energy to a site regardless of what might occur on the power grid, decreasing the impact of outages and improving power quality for sensitive equipment.

Environmental Benefits:Because less fuel is burned to produce each unit of energy output, CHP reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Economic Benefits:CHP can save facilities considerable money on their energy bills due to its high efficiency and can provide a hedge against unstable energy costs.

Reprinted from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) Website. For more information on distributed energy technologies and combined heat and power (CHP) systems, visit www.eere.energy.gov/industry/distributedenergy/.

Publication date:01/05/2009