Turbinenabwärme

Turbinenabwärme refers to the waste heat generated by turbines, primarily in industrial power generation and propulsion systems. Turbines, whether steam turbines or gas turbines, convert thermal or kinetic energy into mechanical work, but this process is not perfectly efficient. A significant portion of the energy input is released as heat, particularly from the exhaust gases of gas turbines and the condenser in steam turbine systems.

This waste heat, if not captured, represents a loss of energy potential. The concept of Turbinenabwärme is therefore closely linked to the principles of energy recovery and combined heat and power (CHP) systems, also known as cogeneration. In such systems, the otherwise wasted heat from the turbine is utilized for other purposes, such as district heating, industrial process heating, or even for driving a secondary, lower-temperature turbine in a combined cycle.

Capturing Turbinenabwärme can significantly improve the overall energy efficiency of a plant. For instance, in a gas turbine power plant, the hot exhaust gases can be fed into a boiler to generate steam, which then drives a steam turbine, creating a combined cycle. This process can boost electricity generation efficiency by 50% or more compared to a simple cycle gas turbine. Similarly, the heat from steam turbine condensers can be used for heating buildings or industrial applications. The economic and environmental benefits of recovering Turbinenabwärme are substantial, reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.