COGENERATION

2016
WHAT IS COGENERATION?
Cogeneration (Combined Heat and Power or CHP) is the simultaneous
production of electricity and heat, both of which are used. The central
and most fundamental principle of cogeneration is that, in order to
maximise the many benefits that arise from it, systems should be
based on the heat demand of the application. This can be an
individual building, an industrial factory or a town/city served by
district heat/cooling. Through the utilisation of the heat, the efficiency
of a cogeneration plant can reach 90% or more.

COGEN Europe. What is cogeneration?. Recuperado en: http://www.cogeneurope.eu/what-is-cogeneration_19.html. 2016-04-27.

COGENERATION – OTHER NAMES
• Combined Heat and Power or CHP.
• Combined Cooling, Heating and Power
• Building Cooling, Heating and Power

COGEN Europe. What is cogeneration?. Recuperado en: http://www.cogeneurope.eu/what-is-cogeneration_19.html. 2016-04-27.

D.W. Wu, R.Z. Wang. Combined cooling, heating and power: A review. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science. Volume 32, Issues
5–6, September–November 2006, Pages 459–495
BENEFITS
• Increased efficiency of energy conversion and use. Cogeneration is the
most effective and efficient form of power generation.
• Lower emissions to the environment, in particular of CO2, the main
greenhouse gas. Cogeneration is the single biggest solution to the Kyoto
targets.
• Large cost savings, providing additional competitiveness for industrial and
commercial users, and offering affordable heat for domestic users.
• An opportunity to move towards more decentralised forms of electricity
generation, where plants are designed to meet the needs of local
consumers, providing high efficiency, avoiding transmission losses and
increasing flexibility of system use. This will particularly be the case if
natural gas is the energy carrier.
COGEN Europe. What is cogeneration?. Recuperado en: http://www.cogeneurope.eu/what-is-cogeneration_19.html. 2016-04-27.
BENEFITS
• Improved local and general security of supply – local generation,
through cogeneration, can reduce the risk of consumers being left
without supplies of electricity and/or heating. In addition, the
reduced need for fuel resulting from cogeneration reduces import
dependency – helping to tackle a key challenge for Europe’s energy
future.
• An opportunity to increase the diversity of generation plant, and
provide competition in generation. Cogeneration provides one of the
most important vehicles for promoting energy martket liberalisation.
• Increased employment – a number of studies have now concluded
that the development of CHP systems is a generator of jobs.
• Reduce energy costs.
COGEN Europe. What is cogeneration?. Recuperado en: http://www.cogeneurope.eu/what-is-cogeneration_19.html. 2016-04-27.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CONVENTIONAL
POWER GENERATION AND CHP
Basically it is the efficiency levels:
• CHP technologies vary depending on the size and type of system,
typically achieving efficiency levels of 60-80%
• Conventional power generation: 33~45%

• Cost
Cogeneration systems are major investments.

Center for Sustainable Energy. Combined Heat and Power (CHP). Recuperado en: https://energycenter.org/self-generation-incentive-
program/business/technologies/chp. 2016-04-27,
Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. COGENERATION / COMBINED HEAT AND POWER (CHP). Recuperado en:
http://www.c2es.org/technology/factsheet/CogenerationCHP. 2016-04-27.
GENERATION AND
CONVENTIONAL
DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN

POWER

CHP

Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. COGENERATION / COMBINED HEAT AND POWER (CHP). Recuperado en:
http://www.c2es.org/technology/factsheet/CogenerationCHP. 2016-04-27.
TYPES OF CYCLES
• Topping Cycle CHP (ciclo superior): produce electricity first, then
recover the excess thermal energy for heating or cooling applications.
• Bottoming Cycle CHP(ciclo inferior): also known as “waste heat to
power,” are a process whereby waste heat from an existing process is
used to produce electricity.

Center for Sustainable Energy. Combined Heat and Power (CHP). Recuperado en: https://energycenter.org/self-generation-incentive-
program/business/technologies/chp. 2016-04-27.
TYPES OF CYCLES

Center for Sustainable Energy. Combined Heat and Power (CHP). Recuperado en: https://energycenter.org/self-generation-incentive-
program/business/technologies/chp. 2016-04-27.
TYPES OF CYCLES

Center for Sustainable Energy. Combined Heat and Power (CHP). Recuperado en: https://energycenter.org/self-generation-incentive-
program/business/technologies/chp. 2016-04-27.
 EXERCISE
1. Una planta de cogeneración consume 86.000 GJ/año de gas natural con un costo de
$10/GJ. La planta de cogeneración genera 6.000.000 kWh/año y 31.000 GJ de energía
térmica útil. La electricidad generada compensa la electricidad que hubiese sido
comprada a $0,10/kWh. La energía térmica útil recuperada compensa a una caldera
operada con combustión.

Asuma que el costo del gas es el mismo que el anterior y la eficiencia neta de la calera
es de 80%. Estime la reducción neta en el costo anual de la energía entregada por la
unidad de cogeneración.
TECHNOLOGIES
• https://www.bhkw-infozentrum.de/es/tecnologias-de-la-cogeneracion.html
• https://www.bhkw-infozentrum.de/es/tecnologias-de-la-cogeneracion.html