Its main advantage is energy efficiency since it takes advantage of both heat and mechanical or electrical energy from a single process.
This process is widely applied in industrial processes and in large buildings in which the excess heat is used for heating, cooling (absorption machines) or for the production of domestic hot water.
At present there is an incipient tendency to the use of cogeneration by the final consumers, which is known as microcogeneration.
Among the main advantages of microcogeneration are:
Microcogeneration uses gas microturbines or small combustion engines for the generation of electrical energy, while waste heat is used for heating, cooling or for the production of domestic hot water.
There are microcogenerators of small size, similar to that of any appliance. The following figure shows the internal structure of a mycocogenerator with a gas turbine for the production of electrical energy and a heat exchanger for the recovery of heat from flue gases.
The internal structure of the turbine is shown below. A gas combustion reaction occurs in the turbine burner. The gases generated are expanded in the turbine producing the rotation of the alternator axis generating electrical energy.
The gases once expanded contain a residual thermal energy that can be used to heat water that can be used for different uses. This heating is done in a heat exchanger that is traversed by the waste gases and the water to be heated.
In the coming years we will see a growing implementation of these systems. Many manufacturers are developing microcogenerators that will be launched on the market during 2011.
These systems are especially suitable for applications where a continuous supply of hot water is needed such as saunas, gyms, hotels, swimming pools...
In housing blocks, their use is recommended in communities of more than 30 homes.
Image source: Consumer Eroski Infographics http://www.consumer.es/web/es/medio_ambiente/energia_y_ciencia/2010/01/31/190411.php
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