Conversion of stand-by-generator facilities to combined heat and power units. “Technical Aspects”

Finding and developing new energy sources is only part of the solution to world´s long-term energy needs. Making proper use of the energy presently available is equally important. Effective use of energy could considerably extend the life of existing fuel resources and make the introduction of new sources much less urgent. One possible alternative is combined heat and power from stand-by-generators. Many organizations dependent on electricity have diesel generator sets as a backup in the event of failure of mains electricity supply. It was noted that local electricity had a peak demand period covering times when the factories were not operating and stand-by-generators were idle. Conversion of stand-by-generator facilities to CHP units allows them to be used for profitable generation of electricity, and heat. This paper suggests principles for conversion of stand-by-generator facilities to combined heat and power units. The author looks at the modifications of the entire system to enable units to operate as a sustained basis and in parallel with the main electricity supply. Some of the practical difficulties, which can be encountered as well as specific benefits, and methods to achieve them have been identified. In addition, the author suggests some energy conversion systems using single fuel to simultaneously produce two forms of energy, usually useful heat and electricity. The idea of conversion of stand-by-generator facilities to combined heat and power discussed in this paper is practical, prescriptive and has world-wide application