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Engines convert fuel to useful energy. One third of the energy is converted to mechanical energy and two thirds to heat. Conventional power stations are too far from a heat load to use the heat energy.
Combined Heat & Power (CHP) systems are sited so that both the heat and the power can be used. The mechanical power is converted to electricity and the heat is used in industrial processes or for central heating schemes. This more than doubles the efficiency of the use of the fuel, conserving the world's fossil fuel reserves and significantly reducing energy costs. In essence free heat.
First Energy Ltd is a dedicated CHP builder, installer and operator.
The best engineers in the CHP discipline look after a variety of installations supplying energy from compact modular 'plug-in' units of 25kWe to turnkey manufacture and operation of stations of 50MW
to a growing list of clients.
First Energy CHP units are, in the main, powered by spark ignition gas engines driving a synchronous alternator. Heat is recovered from the engine jacket cooling water, the exhaust gas and if practicable from the lubricating oil. The secondary water is pumped through heat exchangers and used for the external heating system. The quantity of heat recovered is controlled by diverting to a dump radiator or modulating with demand.
Acoustic enclosures with fan assisted ventilation, noise reducing air inlet and outlet attenuators, vibration isolators and exhaust silencers minimise the noise.
The performance, control and protection are PLC initiated. A modem communicates with remote stations that monitor and can control the installations.
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