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Cogeneration - it sounds like a complicated term.
But it’s not, really.
Simple Definition
Basically, it describes a process of burning
a single fuel to simultaneously create two forms of energy.
Most commonly the two
forms of energy are: electricity and steam.
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Household Example
One of the most common forms of cogeneration takes place in
your car. The engine burns fuel, creating power to turn the
wheels. When you turn on your dashboard heater, air is sucked
in the front of the car and passes over the hot engine, where
it’s warmed by all of the waste heat dissipating from
the engine block. Then the warm air is blown into the passenger
compartment where it keeps you nice and toasty. That’s
a form of cogeneration. You’re recovering heat that normally
would have been wasted, and putting it to use. Modern day,
industrial cogeneration involves the same thing, but on a
much larger scale.
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Q: “Are you telling
me, cogeneration is a fancy word for re-using waste heat from the
generation of electricity?”
A: Yup.
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Key Take-away
Cogeneration: 1 fuel => 2 forms
of energy (heat & electricity)
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Let's take a closer look
at Cogeneration.
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