Microturbine-boiler Integrations are Efficient and Practical Combined Heat and Power Solutions

Abstract

An adequate thermal load is critical to a successful combined heat
and power project. However, the integration of the waste heat stream from
an on-site generator with a facility’s existing steam or hot water system
is often one of the more dif ficult and costly aspects of a project.
This brief article is intended to introduce the reader to the basic
concept of integrating microturbines (small gas turbine generators in the
30 to 250 kW range) directly with existing building boilers, to achieve
simple and highly ef ficient on-site generation systems.
The author discusses the direct use of microturbine exhaust in
conventional industrial and commercial boilers. This type of thermal
integration greatly simplifies the installation of an on-site generator with
existing building systems, and provides the maximum possible utiliza-
tion of the heat, in cases where a boiler is the primary source of thermal
energy in the building.