Ivor Bates asked:


With the cost of living soaring to an all time high, everyone is looking to take on measures that will help them save money on household fuel bills.

Choosing the right central heating system and boiler is vital in order to balance energy efficiency against the ideal capacity needed for the home. That is why it is vitally important that you select a CORGI registered heating engineer that can make the all important calculations that could provide serious long-term savings.

Your selected heating engineer should also guarantee the following when servicing, repairing and installing new central heating systems and boilers:



Old gas boilers are replaced with a new condensing boilers in order to cut CO2 emissions and save on bills

Boilers are set to meet the specific heat requirements of the property

Controls are selected to maximise energy efficiency whilst meeting the specific needs and comfort levels of the property

Radiators are appropriately sized to meet the specific requirements for each room and each is fitted with a thermostatic control to improve in-room comfort

A central heating programmer is fitted that can adjust the time the heating comes on to suit the outside temperature. Room temperature can also be set more accurately and evenly so that a boiler only fires up when it needs to. This increases comfort and reduces heating bills by using less fuel.

Towel warmers are recommended as they contain less water than a radiator, heat up more rapidly and add a modern look to a bathroom.

Unvented twin-coil hot water cylinders are recommended. These can heat up water twice as quickly, they use less energy and provide greater water pressure. These cylinders are also upgradable so that new technology such as solar panels can be added at a later date if required.



 

These are just a few of the initiatives and suggestions that could easily provide any household with substantial savings. Choose your heating engineer wisely and make sure that, as a member of CORGI, they are dedicated to supporting energy efficiency measures and to advising you on the most energy efficient solutions for your home.



Kristin

Q-Online asked:


Cogeneration or Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Technology converts gas into both electricity and heat in a single process at the point of use.

How Does Cogeneration Work

Cogeneration uses a single process to generate both electricity and usable heat or cooling. The propositions of heat and power needed (Heat: Power) vary from site to site, so the type of plant must be selected carefully and an appropriate operating regime must be established to match demands as closely as possible.

Cogeneration System consists of four elements



A primary mover (engine)

An electricity generator

A heat recovery system

A control system

Suitability of Cogeneration

Cogeneration has long history of use in many industries. In recent years the greater availability and wider choice of suitable technology has meant that cogeneration has become an attractive and practical proposition for wide range of industries. These include the process industries, commercial and public sector buildings and district heating schemes, all of which have considerable heat demand. We also lists renewable fuels that can enhance the value of cogeneration, although fossil fuels, particularly natural gas and more widely used



Pharmaceuticals

Paper and board manufacture

Brewing, distilling & malting

Ceramics

Brick

Cement

Food Processing

Textile Processing

Minerals Processing

Oil Refineries

Iron and Steel

Motor Industry

Horticulture and glasshouses

Timber Processing



Buildings



District Heating

Hotels

Hospitals

Leisure Centers

Airport

Prisons

Supermarkets

Office Buildings

Individual Houses

Renewable Energy



Sewage treatment works

Poultry and other farm sites

Short rotation coppice woodland

Energy cops

Agro-wastes

Energy From Waste



Gasified Municipal Solid Waste

Municipal Incinerators

Landfill sites

Hospital waste incinerators



Future of Cogeneration

Cogeneration is well proven-technology, recognized world wide as a cleaner alternative to traditional centralized generation. Its long-term future in the global energy markets is secured by its ability to provide operational financial and environmental benefits from a single unit of fuel.

Benefits of Cogeneration

Operational Advantages:



Base load electricity supply

Security of supply

Legislative compliance of EBPD

Increased diversity on heating and hot water

Steam raising capabilities

Trigeneration, using absorption mechanical chillers for cooling



Environmental Advantages



Improved fuel efficiency

Reduced CO2 emissions

No Transmission Losses

Reduction of energy consumed

Lower SOx emissions with the use of natural gas a fuel



Operational Advantages



Base Load electricity supply

Security of supply

Legislative compliance of EBPD

Increased diversity on heating and hot water

Steam raising capabilities

Trigenration, using absorption/mechanical chillers for cooling

When to consider Cogeneration Technology



Designing a new building

Installing new boiler plant

Existing site re-development

Continuity of power

Increasing energy efficiency

Improving Financial Performance

Positive environment impact

Supporting the Company’s Green Image



Cogeneration Solutions and Technology Providers

There are various companies in the UK and Europe providing Cogeneration solutions and technologies. Below we have listed a few leading Cogeneration, Renewable Energy and Energy Management services provider

1. Ener.G Group

2. Save Energy Online.com

3. Cogen Partner

Most of these companies provide wide range of cogeneration solutions both in terms of the technology and procurement options available.

Cogeneration Technologies

Cogeneration Systems are available from 33W to 100MG typical applications run on natural gas, however system can also be fuelled by propane, biogas or diesel.

A typical cogeneration system consists of an engine, steam turbine, or combustion turbine that drives an electrical generator. A waste heat exchanger recovers waste heat from the engine and/or exhaust gas to produce hot water or steam. Cogeneration produces a given amount of electric power and process heat with 10% to 30% less fuel than it takes to produce the electricity and process heat separately.

There are two main types of cogeneration techniques: “Topping Cycle” plants, and “Bottoming Cycle” plants.

A topping cycle plant generates electricity or mechanical power first. There are four types of topping cycle cogeneration systems.

1. The first type burns fuel in a gas turbine or diesel engine to produce electrical or mechanical power.

2. The second type of system burns fuel (any type) to produce high-pressure steam that then passes through a steam turbine to produce power.

3. A third type burns a fuel such as natural gas, diesel, wood, gasified coal, or landfill gas.

4. The fourth type is a gas-turbine topping system. A natural gas turbine drives a generator.

Bottoming cycle plants are much less common than topping cycle plants. These plants exist in heavy industries such as glass or metals manufacturing where very high temperature furnaces are used.

Submitted by Q-Online - Internet Marketing Consultancy



Jennifer