Cogeneration

Cogeneration refers to the production of electrical and/or mechanical energy and utilizable heat energy from fuel. Cogeneration is applied in several plants of the Sanitation Authority of Valencia (EPSAR, standing for Entidad de Saneamiento de la Comunidad Valenciana). Cogeneration systems are efficient alternatives to traditional systems that use the alternative power grid, and are widely developed and introduced in industrial technology.

The great advantage of cogenerationis the energy efficiency that can be obtained, that is: the useful energy obtained on the chemical energy of the fuel used. By generating electricity with a generator or alternator driven by an internal combustion engine or a turbine, usage of the chemical energy of fuel is 25% to 40% only, and the rest is dissipated as heat. Cogeneration takes advantage of a major part of the thermal energy normally dissipated in the atmosphere.