kombinasjonskraftverk

Kombinasjonskraftverk, also known as combined heat and power (CHP) or cogeneration plants, are facilities designed to generate both electricity and useful heat simultaneously. This integrated approach offers significant improvements in energy efficiency compared to conventional power generation, which typically wastes a substantial portion of the heat produced during electricity generation.

The fundamental principle behind a kombinasjonskraftverk is to capture and utilize the waste heat that would otherwise be expelled into the atmosphere or cooling water. This captured heat can then be used for a variety of purposes, including district heating for residential and commercial buildings, industrial process heat, or even absorption chilling for air conditioning.

Various technologies can be employed in kombinasjonskraftverk, such as steam turbines, gas turbines, and internal combustion engines. In a typical gas turbine-based CHP plant, hot exhaust gases from the turbine are fed into a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), which produces steam. This steam can then drive a secondary steam turbine to generate more electricity or be directly supplied for heating purposes.

The advantages of kombinasjonskraftverk include higher overall energy efficiency, reduced fuel consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and increased reliability of energy supply, especially when integrated with local heating networks. They are particularly well-suited for locations with a consistent demand for both electricity and heat, such as industrial parks, large institutions, and densely populated urban areas. The concept is a key component in strategies aimed at decarbonization and optimizing energy resource utilization.