Micro-Chip Power Generation for Residential and Small Commercial Buildings
Posted by Hamada Rageh on Sunday, January 9, 2011
Micro-Chip Power Generation for Residential and Small Commercial Buildings
Publisher: Nova Science Publishers | ISBN: 1604568674 | edition 2009 | PDF | 282 pages | 1,08 mb
The traditional structure of the electrical utility market, green
engineering issues, and environmental acceptability have resulted in a
relatively small number of electric utilities. However, today's
technology permits development of smaller, less expensive power systems,
bringing in new, independent producers. Competitions from these
independent producers along with the re-thinking of existing regulations
have affected the conventional structure of electric utilities. The
restructuring of the electric utility industry and the development of
new 'onsite and near-site' power generation technologies have opened up
new possibilities for buildings, building complexes, and communities to
generate and sell power. Competitive forces have created new challenges
as well as opportunities for companies that can anticipate technological
needs and emerging market trends.Micro-cooling, heating, and power
(micro-CHP) is decentralised electricity generation coupled with
thermally activated components for residential and small commercial
applications. A micro-CHP system consists of a prime mover, such as a
reciprocating engine, which drives a generator, which produces
electrical power. The waste heat from the prime mover is recovered and
used to drive thermally activated components and to produce hot water or
warm air through the use of heat exchangers. Micro-CHP holds some of
the answers to the efficiency, pollution, and deregulation issues that
the utility industry currently faces. A review of micro-CHP systems,
specific types of distributed power generation, and thermally-activated
technologies are introduced and discussed in this book.