Small and Micro Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Systems

Preface

A preface has the function of introducing scope, intention and method of a literary or other work. The broad scope in this book is to review in depth the prospects and opportunity for applying small- and micro-chp systems as energy providers for domestic residences and smaller institutional, commercial and industrial buildings. But you might ask ‘surely we are already well provided for in this area of services?’ We have modern gas fired hot water boilers which can be up to 90% efficient and we have a readily available mains electricity supply which we can conveniently ‘tap’ as needed, even though conversion efficiency is low.

However, we are in a time of change where ‘energy resources’ have suddenly become an important and challenging ...