Simultaneous production of electricity with the recovery and utilization of heat
Traditional power systems produce electric power at around 40% efficiency, so there is a lot of waste. A way to improve efficiency is to install cogeneration systems that produce electricity and heat simultaneously. Such plants are called CHP – Combined Heat and Power.
CHP plants are usually built around a gas engine genset. They collect thermal energy from an intercooler, engine jacket water, lubrication oil, and exhaust gas. Hot water can then be produced via heat exchangers, increasing total energy utilization efficiency, often to a level in excess of 90% efficiency.
Some CHP plants are connected to an ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) system where the excess heat from the engine is used to further create electricity.
CHP plants are typically embedded close to the end user and therefore help reduce transportation and distribution losses, improving the overall performance of the electricity transmission and distribution network.
About SWEP
Starting from small beginnings in Sweden in 1983, SWEP is now the world’s leading supplier of compact brazed plate heat exchangers (BPHEs). These are used where heat needs to be transferred efficiently in air conditioning, refrigeration, heating, and industrial applications.
Highly efficient production units in Sweden, the USA, Malaysia, Slovakia, and China enable SWEP to serve customers all over the world. SWEP is represented in more than 50 countries worldwide and is a global corporation with 900 employees and a production capacity close to 4 million BPHEs per annum.
SWEP is part of the global Dover Corporation, a multi-billion-dollar, NYSE-traded, diversified manufacturer of a wide range of proprietary products and components for industrial and commercial use.