Combined heat and power units
Produce current and warmth yourself
If in a plant current (and/or power) and warmth are produced at the same time, it is called power heat coupling (KWK). Combined heat and power units (BHKW) are power heat coupling plants ready for installation in washing machine format, which easily fit into every boiler room. Due to its particularly high efficiency BHKW are considered especially progressive and pollution free. Because this is in accordance of the climatic goals of the Federal Government, this innovative heater technology with is promoted by a whole bundle of measures.
As a drive for the current generator of the BHKW combustion engines, but also gas turbines or fuel cells may be used. The warmth that is generated during operation, which deflagrates unused in conventional power stations, is a desired side effect and is made available trough heat exchangers for heating, warm water or as process heat.
Due to this way the usual efficiency of 30-40%, can be increased to 80-95% with KWK and at the same time the CO2-Emission, which develops during the energy conversion, can be reduced up to 50%. In addition the useful energy is directly produced and used locally. Thus the usual transportation losses, which particularly arise with the heat transport, are omitted.
Usually combined heat and power units are operated with natural gas, Diesel or heating oil but also, renewable sources of energy, like bio Diesel or rapeseed oil can be used. In connection with a stirling engine even wood pellets for can be used for operating a combined heat and power unit.
A condition for the economically reasonable employment of a combined heat and power unit is the simultaneous need of current and warmth, a large annual number of operating hours as well as the proximity of the BHKW to the final consumer. All this is e.g. given in smaller multi-family houses, hotels, hospitals, homes for the elderly, schools, and in industrial concerns and other institutions, where BHKW are used more and more.
The current produced from the BHKW can be used by one self and the surplus current can be fed into the public electricity grid hassle free. The grid operators are obligated to take the current from combined heat and power units. In addition BHKW are promoted in Germany by the power heat coupling law:
- For the acquisition there is a capital investment grant, which depends on the size of the plant and number of the annual operation hours.
- For each kilowatt-hour produced current, you get 5,11 cents due to the so-called “power heat coupling KWK current compensation”.
- After each operational year the energy tax paid on the used up fuel is returned.
Beyond that, individual federal states grant additional supporting measures and the technology is also subsidized by the Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau (KfW) with own programs.
So that you can also benefit from the innovative and pollution free technology of combined heat and power units, we recommend to you to contact our experts directly.
