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BSEE


COMBINED HEAT & POWER


u“Taking out the service plan gave us peace of mind that we have the support of engineers trained by the manufacturer and who understand the plant they are working on”


uA longterm service plan ensures that the CHP operates connuously and at opmum performance, maximising whole life eciency and related benefits


Planning ahead with CHP T


he pressure is on for our industry to support businesses and


organisations with low- carbon, cost-effective heating solutions to


contribute to the UK’s steep 80 per cent emissions reduction target by 2050. Each building will have its own unique requirements, but in sites with high, year-round demand for high grade heat, one technology that offers compelling financial and environmental advantages, is Combined Heat and Power (CHP).


In sites with high, constant demand for heat, CHP oers a highly ecient soluon to significant energy and carbon savings. But it pays to factor in maintenance at the outset for maximum installer peace of mind and enduser benefits, says Mike Heord, Remeha’s technical manager


CHP units generate lower-cost electricity and heat simultaneously on- site in one highly efficient process. In this way, CHP can reduce primary energy usage by up to 30 per cent and emissions by up to 20 per cent compared with traditional generation. As CHP typically reduces energy bills by around 30 per cent, there’s a compelling economic as well as environment argument for displacing carbon-intensive grid electricity with CHP electricity. Indeed, the greater the ‘spark spread’ – or difference between gas and electricity costs – the greater the savings from a CHP system. And with electricity prices, currently nearly four times the cost of gas, predicted to rise faster, the business case for CHP continues to strengthen.


Maximising returns


But here’s the caveat. Obvious as it may sound, if a CHP unit is not running, or the performance drops, it will fail to generate economic or environmental savings.


So how to avoid downtime? Given that a CHP unit delivers maximum returns when running constantly, the first step is to assess whether the site has the required high, year-round requirement for heat, usually a minimum of 4,500 hours.


Accurate sizing is crucial. Oversizing the CHP will reduce running hours and carbon savings, as well as leading to maintenance and warranty issues. Obtaining the sites gas and electrical data will give a good indicator of the building profile and demand peaks and troughs.


The next step is to consider how the CHP will be managed and maintained. CHP is a specialist piece of equipment, so it’s advisable to put a long-term CHP service contract in


10 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER APRIL 2019


place at the early stages, usually with the supplier.


Service programme


Mechanical and electrical engineers, Thomas Armstrong, followed this approach when carrying out a highly- successful CHP installation at Penrith Leisure Centre. The site, which is owned by Eden District Council and managed by the GLL group, has two swimming points requiring constant heating, making it perfectly suited for CHP. Thomas Armstrong recommended installing a Remeha R-Gen 20/44 kWe condensing CHP unit operating in conjunction with high efficiency Remeha condensing boilers to meet the project requirements. But, from the outset, they were clear on the need to implement a service plan.


“For us, it was important to install a unit that was not only sized correctly for maximum run time, but that there was a service programme offered that would keep the CHP operating at its optimum,” says Thomas Armstrong’s Stephen Clarkson. “We looked at the service plan that was offered with the unit before we even purchased the CHP.”


A long-term service plan ensures that the CHP operates continuously and at optimum performance, maximising whole-life efficiency and related benefits.


“A CHP unit is a specialist piece of plant,” adds Clarkson. “Taking out the service plan gave us peace of mind that we have the support of engineers trained by the manufacturer and who understand the plant they are working on.”


Suppliers will usually offer a choice of CHP service levels that encompass remote monitoring and timely maintenance and services, typically at around 6,000 CHP operating hours for a 20kWe unit.


“Servicing the CHP allows the engineer to monitor the multiple moving parts and electrical components, identify any wear and tear and react quickly to any issues,” explain Clarkson. “That way, the CHP continues to produce electricity and heat to the building.”


Leave it to the experts


As an estimated 85 per cent of reported CHP faults are able to be corrected and reset remotely, remote


monitoring is an important component of the service plan.


“If the unit has stopped working, is in alarm, or the performance drops for any reason, this is picked up within hours and action is taken to rectify the problem without prolonged downtime,” continues Clarkson.


With experienced CHP engineers taking care of the CHP, maintenance is carried out promptly with minimum disruption. This reduces inconvenience and costs, both for the installer as well as the end- user, as any issues can be resolved before they become a problem. “A service plan also takes the responsibility away from the end user or building operator to monitor the unit and to report problems on something they may not fully understand,” adds Clarkson.


Longterm benefits


Let’s consider the potential financial benefits. A CHP unit like the R-Gen 20/44 unit could deliver real world savings in the region of £60,000 during its ten-year lifetime. That’s inclusive of – or arguably dependent on – the implementation of a service plan, as this will optimise its performance, running hours, and ultimately, the savings benefits.


Back at Penrith Leisure Centre, the R- Gen CHP has reached 6,000 operating hours and had its first service. Initial reports from the council indicate total primary energy savings in the region of 35 per cent when comparing energy data from the second half of 2017 with the same period in 2018. Factor in the spark spread, and this will translate to considerable cost savings for the council and GLL.


CHP offers the ability to cut costs, reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency and ensure greater energy security. But the planning stage is all-important. To achieve long-term CHP operational efficiency, it’s essential not only to ensure accurate sizing and integration, but to address maintenance and servicing arrangements from the outset. The installation at Penrith Leisure Centre exemplifies how, with effective communication between contractors, suppliers and end-users, best practice design and an eye to future maintenance, the full benefits of CHP can be achieved.


remeha.co.uk Read the latest at: www.bsee.co.uk


CHP oers the ability to cut costs, reduce carbon


emissions, improve energy eciency and ensure greater energy security





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