Gas Engines - Trigeneration Solutions
Combined cooling, heat, and power (CCHP) systems—also called trigeneration systems—are the combination of cogeneration plants and absorption chillers. They offer an optimal solution for generating air conditioning and/or refrigeration. Absorption chillers provide an economic and environmental alternative to conventional refrigeration with compression chillers. Combining high efficiency, low-emission cogeneration equipment with absorption chillers enables maximum total fuel efficiency, elimination of HCFC/CFC refrigerants, and reduced overall air emissions.
How it works
Combining a cogeneration plant with an absorption refrigeration system enables the use of seasonal excess heat for cooling. Hot water from the cooling circuit of the cogeneration plant serves as drive energy for the absorption chiller.
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Absorption chillers produce chilled water by heating two substances (e.g., water and lithium bromide salt) that are in thermal equilibrium to separation, then reuniting them through heat removal.
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The heat input and removal, achieved in a vacuum at varying pressure conditions (approximately 8 mbar and approximately 70 mbar), brings the materials into imbalance, thereby forcing them to undergo desorption or absorption.
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Water (refrigerant) and lithium bromide salt (absorbent) are generally used for generation of chilled water in the temperature range from 6 to 12°C. Ammonia (refrigerant) and water (absorbent) are used for low temperature chilling down to -60°C.
Features & Benefits
- Compared to conventional refrigeration technology absorption-based systems offer the most established, efficient, and economic solution for reduced emission, air conditioning systems
- Trigeneration systems operate with heat, utilizing relatively inexpensive “excess energy”
- Produced electricity can be fed into the public grid or used to cover electricity requirements of the plant
- During cold seasons, heat can be utilized to cover heat requirements
- System contains no moving parts, enabling low maintenance expenses
- Absorption system offers noiseless operation
- Low operating costs and life-cycle costs
- Using water as a refrigerant eliminates use of ozone-damaging substances
