Combined Heat, Cooling & Power

Optimal's integrated power solutions offer a substantial reduction in energy expenses, a marked decrease in emissions, and the provision of complimentary heating and cooling services. By efficiently capturing and harnessing the waste heat generated during power generation, our systems provide versatile options, including Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and Combined Cooling, Heating, and Power (CCHP).

Cogeneration

The thermal energy derived from power generation can be effectively recuperated for various practical applications. The clean exhaust emissions can be directly employed for processes like drying or, alternatively, captured as hot water through a Heat Recovery Module (HRM). Furthermore, it can be transformed into steam utilizing a Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) or serve as combustion air for burners.

Capstone Microturbines are capable of both power generation and the generation of clean heat in their exhaust stream. The exhaust contains 18% oxygen, with low levels of NOx, CO, and VOCs, suitable for use in drying processes, such as spray drying, timber treatment, or paint drying. For direct drying applications, package efficiencies can reach up to 95%.

The 18% oxygen content in the exhaust enables its use as combustion air for burners, which, in turn, significantly reduces the need for additional gas in the production of process heat. A range of aftermarket burners is available for both greenfield applications and retrofitting existing plants, facilitating the utilization of this exhaust heat. Package efficiencies of up to 95% are attainable with direct combustion applications.

Additionally, the exhaust can be used to produce hot water through a simple hot water addition, effectively offsetting the gas or power typically consumed in generating hot water for domestic, industrial, or process heating, as well as feed water heating for steam boilers. This approach substantially curtails emissions and energy costs, with package efficiencies of up to 85% for hot water applications.

For those interested in low-pressure steam generation, a Waste Heat Steam Generator (WHSG) can be integrated into the turbine exhaust system. The inclusion of a duct burner can enhance the efficiency of this application, while a modified burner can utilize the microturbine exhaust to preheat the combustion air. Consequently, package efficiencies of up to 65% can be achieved in HRSG applications, and up to 95% for co-fired burner options.

The following are some of the locations in which a combined power and heating solution has been implemented:

Trigeneration

The thermal energy from power generation can be harnessed for cooling purposes through an absorption chiller, in addition to its heat recovery benefits. The absorption chiller converts microturbine heat into chilled water, employing a lithium bromide solution. The resulting chilled water can be employed for process cooling, air conditioning, or as an economizer in chilled water circuits, leading to a significant increase in package efficiency, up to 85%.

Here are some the locations in which a tri-generation setup has been installed: