Types of CHP systems

There are five principal types of CHP system :

 Back pressure steam turbine systems, where steam at high pressure is generated
in a boiler and is wholly or partly used in a turbine being exhausted from the
turbine at the required pressure for the site. A proportion of the steam used by the
turbine may also be extracted at an intermediate pressure from the turbine (a pass-
out/back pressure steam turbine).
 Pass-out condensing steam turbine systems, where a proportion of the steam
used by the turbine is extracted at an intermediate pressure from the turbine with
the remainder being fully condensed before it is exhausted at the exit
(pass-out/condensing steam turbine).
 Gas turbine systems, where fuel is combusted in the gas turbine and the exhaust
gases are normally used in a waste heat boiler to produce usable heat, though the
exhaust gases may be used directly in some process applications.
 Reciprocating engine systems, producing two grades of waste heat: high grade
heat from the engine exhaust and low grade heat from the engine cooling circuits.
Two principal types of engine exist: compression ignition and spark ignition,
dependent on their firing method.
 Combined cycle systems, where the plant comprises one or more engines
(usually gas turbines but in some cases reciprocating engines) whose exhaust gases
are utilised in a steam generator, the steam of which is used wholly or in part in
one or more steam turbines.