CHP, ORC and turbine technology processes – familiar energy production terms inside innovations

“CHP” stands for Combined Heat and Power, an umbrella term for power stations that generate both electrical and heat energy. The cogeneration process can be based on any sufficiently powerful method, e.g. steam or gas turbines, engines, or innovative ORC technology.

CHP plays a major role in Finnish energy production where energy is effectively recovered for district heating. Compared to separate generation, the efficiency of cogeneration is optimal because the process can utilise nearly all of the fuel’s energy content.

The heat can be used for process industry applications, for example. In addition, CHP improves plants’ self-sufficiency, reduces CO2 emissions and lowers costs. CCHP plants take cogeneration one step further by producing combined cooling, heat and power. CCHP can produce cooling energy as well with the electricity generated, further improving efficiency.

CCHP plants improve the efficiency of energy production and reduce emissions.

At Sarlin, we work with CHP solutions as a partner to the best equipment suppliers. We deliver engine power stations customised to your needs – from single gas engines to complete plants and maintenance services.

Gas turbines and the Brayton cycle

The Brayton cycle is one of the essential processes in thermal and circular power. It describes the thermodynamic operation of gas turbines, for example. The Brayton cycle is named after its inventor, engineer George Brayton, who developed it in the 1870s.

The Brayton cycle is normally open with a compressor compressing air to a high pressure and temperature. The air is heated further in a combustion chamber, and the combustion products and gases expand to the desired pressure in a turbine. The working fluid is typically air or a specific gas.

In a closed Brayton cycle, the working fluid is circulated through a heat recovery unit, and the turbine exhaust gas is fed back to the compressor. The greatest advantages of the closed cycle are higher power and better efficiency.

Our CHP microturbine plants are a powerful solution for the distribution, self-sufficiency and cost optimisation of energy production. Our plants can use a variety of gases from renewable liquefied biogas (LBG) to liquefied natural gas (LNG). Gases hold immense potential as transitionary fuels as gas technology innovations help to directly reduce the emissions of industrial energy production.

Internal combustion engines and the Otto cycle

The Otto cycle is one of the most widely used thermodynamic processes, and engines based on the Otto cycle are the number one power unit for petrol and gas vehicles.  The Otto cycle is based on combustion where an electric spark is used to ignite an air-fuel mixture.

The burning gas expands and pushes down on a piston. Like the other famous processes for generating motive power, the Otto cycle is named after its inventor, engineer Nicolaus Otto, who developed it in the 1870s.

Conventional Otto engines have solidified their position, and decades of development have improved their power and efficiency and lowered emissions. Efficiency remains the greatest challenge for Otto engines, and improving efficiency has been key to making them more powerful and less environmentally harmful.

To meet future emission reduction targets and respond to rising fuel costs, new innovations and applications must be developed in addition to Otto engines.

The direct emissions of Otto engines, such as particulate emissions, can be reduced with better catalytic converters and cleaner fuels, for example.

The emissions of biogas and natural gas engines are considerably lower compared to (other) fossil fuels.

We offer solutions based on engine power stations fuelled by environmentally friendly gases for electricity and heat production, among other applications. We design the complete station according to the desired energy source and application, allowing you to achieve the best possible efficiency.

Steam turbines and the Rankine cycle

Much like the Brayton cycle is fundamental for gas turbines, the Rankine cycle describes an ideal steam power process, now widely used in power stations all around the world. In the Rankine cycle, heat is converted into mechanical energy in a closed cycle with water as the most common type of working fluid.

The working fluid undergoes a phase transition from liquid to vapour, and the process benefits from the cost-efficiency and thermodynamic properties of water. The Rankine cycle was developed in the 1850s by professor William John Macquorn Rankine.

The Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) method is an advanced version of the base Rankine cycle. ORC can be used to generate electricity from waste heat of sufficient temperature. The technology is still relatively new, and ORC solutions have only taken off in Finland in the 2010s.

Unlike in the original Rankine process, the working fluid can be an organic substance. ORC equipment can recover heat energy from the exhaust of gas engines, for example, and convert it into electrical energy.

The method also allows the production of electrical energy from heat energy produced with environmentally friendly biogas, for example. The ORC process is usable in many industrial applications, including power stations, the process industry and distributed energy production.

In future, we can expect to see heat recovery take on a bigger role as waste heat use is fully in line with the circular economy – and highly cost-efficient. In addition, the method produces no extra CO2 emissions because no additional fuel is required.

We deliver equipment based on ORC technology manufactured by Triogen BV that can help you significantly increase the self-sufficiency and output of your energy production. ORC systems can produce electricity from the exhaust of gas- and diesel-powered engines, which improves the efficiency of electricity generation. An even more environmentally friendly choice is to produce electrical energy by converting heat energy generated with domestic biofuels.

At Sarlin, we work with energy production as a partner to leading equipment suppliers. Our full-range service selection covers everything from outsourcing energy production to delivering individual devices. We specialise in environmentally friendly gas use, and we are among the first to exploit biogases in Finland.

Modern equipment and powerful processes are not enough to guarantee efficient energy production – maintenance and monitoring services are crucial for ensuring high utilisation rates and long life cycles. This is why we offer maintenance services as well so you can keep your plants running smoothly and cost-efficiently.

We provide technical support and maintenance services for all delivered devices and systems and can also monitor your plant’s operations remotely 24/7. Our maintenance contracts free up your time, but most importantly, they ensure high utilisation rates and predictable costs.

Our solutions have the following benefits: 

• You can outsource your energy production to us either fully or partially. We can also take care of maintenance and remote monitoring!
• You can increase the self-sufficiency of your energy production with CHP technology or biogas, for example.
• Your production plant’s waste heat can be converted for use with our ORC equipment.
• You can increase the efficiency of your energy production with equipment that is optimised to your needs.
• You can use data and new applications to update your operations.

We deliver solutions from market leaders:

• CHP and CCHP microturbine plants from Capstone Green Energy Corporation. Capstone Green Energy plants can replace process industry boilers, improve operational efficiency and reduce energy costs.
• CHP and CCHP engine power stations from leading environmentally friendly engine brand MWM.
• ORC heat recovery systems from Triogen can convert the waste heat of exhaust gases and other sources to electricity.