CONGENERATION

Cogeneration means simultaneous production of two or more types of energy.

Normally the generated energy are electricity and heat, but can also be mechanical
energy and heat (y/o Cold). Simultaneous production means that can be used
simultaneously, which means near the generator to consumption, as opposed to the
conventional system of electricity production in independent power plants, where
heat is also clear, but it is not exploited plant and must be removed to the
environment. Remember that thermodynamics requires the evacuation of a certain
amount of heat all thermal electricity production process, because all the heat
absorbed can not become work. The aim of cogeneration is that this large amount of
energy is lost.

Main differential characteristics of cogeneration

a) Various types of energy is harnessed, so it has a potential greater than a

conventional plant performance. In turn, this increased performance gives rise to
three of its biggest advantages: lower fuel consumption, lower production cost and
reduced environmental impact.

b) Energy where it is consumed is produced, so there is less transmission losses and

increases the autonomy of factories

Machinery used for cogeneration

• Steam turbine

• backpressure steam turbines: when the volume of steam required for auxiliary
services is equal to the turbine.
• Steam turbines with intermediate tap, when only a portion of the steam turbine is
required for ancillary services.
• Gas turbine
• Internal combustion engine
• Fuel Cell
• Microturbines
• Stirling Engines
• Organic Rankine Cycles
• Kalina Cycle
Turbines and steam engines have, in general, percentages of efficiency of around 10
to 20%. Otto engines have an electrical efficiency of up to 2 points under 1
percentage efficiency of combustion engines. Meanwhile, gas turbines have a yield of
up to 20 MW and have, in turn, mostly a percentage efficiency below 40%. The
electrical efficiency of Stirling engines, which is in a range of low power (micro-CHP),
varies between 10 and 15%. Technology are higher power fuel cells, which can
achieve a degree of electrical efficiency of 60%.
Conventional methods of generating power and heat
A conventional power generation scheme is one in which both the power, as the heat
required by the process, are produced by separate systems. A common example is the
industrial complex where a number of boilers meet the demands of steam, while all
electricity is supplied (via the public network) by a central external generator. As can
be seen, the high efficiency of the boiler (about 90% net) is minimized by the power
plant, which typically reaches only 40-50% (depending on configuration).
Conclusions:
Operate a plant under a cogeneration scheme provides more efficient and less
environmentally damaging power and useful heat method, since fuel consumption is
less and emit less greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, compared with the use of
conventional systems . In addition, industrial complexes can greatly reduce their
costs if they operate in cogeneration mode. However, external factors, especially
tariffs and contracts to favor centralized electricity companies, inhibit and prevent
cogeneration becomes attractive from an economic point of view. In that sense, it is
necessary to have a legal framework to compete independent plants, in order to
promote more efficient energy generation methods.