Do You Have a Packaged Boiler? Modify it to Cogenerate... and Profit

Abstract

Competition from deregulation is driving utilities and consumers
to seek out alternate means to reduce the cost of electricity. The utility
industry is expected to shift generation away from the traditional central
station philosophy to dispersed generation with the formerly wasted
heat to be recovered and used for industrial steam or to heat commercial
buildings. [1] Some experts suggest that the dispersed generation will
take the form of cogeneration by locating thermal electric generators
with heat recovery steam generators alongside the thermal host.
Coincidentally, there are a large number of existing boilers that can
serve as waste heat receivers if properly modified. This could result in
substantial capital savings, further reducing the cost of the dispersed
electrical generation. Repowering cold windbox industrial boilers
complements and reinforces the dispersed generation philosophy.
This article will compare the economic and technical advantages of
repowering existing small industrial boilers with conventional engine/
gas turbine driven generator sets. Operating advantages in steam gen-
eration reliability and flexibility will be presented