Microturbine-boiler Integrations are Efficient and Practical Combined Heat and Power Solutions

ABSTRACT

An adequate thermal load is critical to a successful combined heat and power project. However, the integration of the waste heat stream from an on-site generator with a facility's existing steam or hot water system is often one of the more difficult and costly aspects of a project.

This brief article is intended to introduce the reader to the basic concept of integrating microturbines (small gas turbine generators in the 30 to 250 kW range) directly with existing building boilers, to achieve simple and highly efficient on-site generation systems.

The author discusses the direct use of microturbine exhaust in conventional industrial and commercial boilers. This type of thermal integration greatly simplifies the installation of an on-site generator with existing building systems, and provides the maximum possible utilization of the heat, in cases where a boiler is the primary source of thermal energy in the building.