Page 166 - Boiler plant and distribution system optimization manual

Over 100 Ways to Improve Efficiency 151

Figure 10.43—Steam separators keeps steam piping system clean and dry.

heat pumps to raise the water temperature for lo-
cal heating and process demands.
The key to how this operates is in the term:
Coefficient of Performance (COP), a measure of
the ratio of energy output to energy input. Some
heat pump units have a COP of over 5 which
means the energy to operate them is only about
20% of the energy produced. (Figure 10.46)

Advantages/Disadvantages
This is one of those options that take imag-
ination and initiative. There appears to be many
applications where the efficiency of the Heat Figure 10.44—Heat Pumps can introduce high effi-
ciencies when combined with other technologies.
Pump has not been applied; for example for heat-
ing make up water or to augment old low pres-
sure steam systems. First cost, operation and
maintenance expenses are involved which must
be worked out. It is a good way to recover low
grade waste heat or provide heat to isolated lo-
cations without resorting to extensive piping sys-
tems and the heat losses they represent.

Figure 10.45—the Coefficient of performance (COP)
8. COEGENERATION—
of Heat Pumps has the potential to raise the efficien-
COMBINED HEAT AND POWER cy of some systems over 100%.

Cost
High tive to use a cogeneration plant to provide steam
and power while producing electricity. A utility
Potential Savings
plant usually wastes about 68% of the input en-
High
ergy and another 5-8% can be lost in transmission
Description and distribution of the power.
Because of the high price of electricity in Some cogeneration facilities are over 80% ef-
some sections of the country, it is very cost effec- ficient. This plus the high cost of electricity puts