Combined Heat and Power
BDR Thermea is a pioneer on Combined Heat and Power. Detailed information on the ranges and models available in your market, please refer to the country site of your preferred brand, by choosing your country on the country selector.
What is mCHP?
Combined heat and power (CHP), or cogeneration, is the simultaneous production of useful heat and electricity from a single source. Large scale CHP, suitable for industrial and commercial applications, has been around for some time.
Micro or Mini-CHP (mCHP) refers to the small-scale production of heat and power for individual commercial buildings, apartments and individual homes. These units meet the demand for space heating and hot water whilst providing electricity to supplement or replace the grid supply.
Why mCHP?
mCHP is a true low (or zero) carbon alternative to a gas boiler.
Installation of mCHP appliances - in existing or new buildings - can be more cost-effective and less disruptive compared to other renewable and low carbon technologies, as installation and servicing relies largely on current skills required for heating installation.
What are the benefits of mCHP?
- Carbon emissions are reduced by generating electricity at the point of use - avoiding the system losses associated with central power production.
- Economic savings are generated for the user, by reducing imported electricity and by selling surplus electricity back to the grid.
- Security of supply is greatly enhanced by reducing reliance on centralised power production.
mCHP Technologies
There a number of technologies developed for application in mCHP appliances.
Internal combustion engines offer benefits where long operating hours are required. In these applications their high electrical conversion efficiency and extended service intervals make them ideal.
BDR Thermea’s Dachs mCHP unit meets the needs of single- and multi-family homes, hotels and hospitals and other commercial applications. The unit generates 5.5kW of electricity and 12.5kW of heat. The Dachs track record is unsurpassed in this class, with an installed based of some 20,000 installations that have delivered savings of over 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 savings on a cumulative basis.
Free Piston Stirling Engine technology is BDR Thermea’s choice for domestic application. Baxi’s Ecogen and Remeha’s Evita units have been designed for domestic application, where a wall-hung appliance is preferred and low noise operation is critical. These solutions are therefore ideal for boiler replacement in a wide range of typical houses or apartments.
Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell technology delivers high electrical efficiency and provides flexibility, with fast start-up times and the ability to modulate output over a wide range of outputs. In 2009 BDR Thermea has launched the Gamma 1.0 unit, delivering up to 1.0kW electrical output and 1.7kW thermal output. Designed for domestic applications, the unit is currently under going extensive field trials with partners across Europe.
Fuel Options
All the above mCHP formats can deliver renewable electricity and heat by utilising bio-natural gas and other bio-fuel options variants are being developed
The Dachs mCHP unit is already available in natural gas, LPG, fuel oil, biodiesel and rape seed oil formats.
