CCSN POWER: Diesel generator heat energy utilization-a new path for energy saving, emission reduction and efficiency improvement

In the energy field, diesel generators, as a common backup or mobile power source, play an important role in many industries. However, a large amount of heat energy is wasted during the operation of traditional diesel generators, which not only causes energy loss but also increases operating costs. How to effectively utilize this heat energy has become an important research topic in the energy field.

Current status of heat energy waste in diesel generators

When a diesel generator is working, only a part of the energy generated by fuel combustion is converted into electrical energy, and the rest of the energy is dissipated in the form of heat energy. According to statistics, about 30% - 50% of the heat energy is discharged through exhaust gas, and another part is dissipated into the surrounding environment through engine coolant and the surface of the body. If these wasted heat energies can be effectively recycled, the energy utilization efficiency will be greatly improved.

Technical approaches to heat energy utilization of diesel generators

Waste gas waste heat recovery

Waste gas is one of the main carriers of heat energy of diesel generators. By installing a waste gas waste heat recovery device, the heat in the waste gas can be transferred to a heat exchange medium, such as hot water or steam. Common waste gas waste heat recovery equipment includes waste gas boilers, heat pipe heat exchangers, etc. Exhaust gas boilers can use high-temperature exhaust gas to generate steam for industrial production, heating or driving steam turbines to generate electricity; heat pipe heat exchangers can efficiently transfer the heat of exhaust gas to coolant, preheat the air entering the engine, and improve combustion efficiency.

Utilization of coolant waste heat

The engine coolant absorbs a lot of heat during the circulation process. A heat exchanger can be installed to transfer the heat in the coolant to domestic water or other media that need to be heated. In cold areas, this part of the heat energy can also be used to heat the machine room, increase the temperature in the machine room, and reduce additional heating energy consumption.

Comprehensive heat energy utilization system

Combining waste heat recovery of exhaust gas and waste heat utilization of coolant to build a comprehensive heat energy utilization system. This system can flexibly allocate heat energy according to different needs and realize the cascade utilization of heat energy. For example, the waste heat of exhaust gas is first used to generate high-temperature steam for industrial production or power generation, and then the remaining low-temperature heat energy is used together with the waste heat of coolant for heating or domestic hot water supply.

Benefits of heat energy utilization

Significant energy-saving benefits

Through heat energy utilization, the energy utilization rate of diesel generators can be increased by 20% - 40%, diesel consumption can be reduced, and operating costs can be reduced. For long-term diesel generator systems, this will bring considerable energy-saving benefits.

Outstanding environmental benefits

Reducing diesel consumption means reducing the emission of pollutants such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which has positive significance for environmental protection. At the same time, the heat energy utilization system reduces waste heat emissions and reduces thermal pollution to the surrounding environment.

Improved economic benefits

In some industrial enterprises, the use of diesel generator heat energy to meet part of the production heat demand can reduce dependence on external energy and reduce energy procurement costs. In addition, for some enterprises with high requirements for energy supply stability, the heat energy utilization system can also improve the reliability of energy supply and avoid production losses caused by interruptions in external energy supply.

Application case analysis

A data center has installed a diesel generator heat energy utilization system. The system transfers the heat in the high-temperature exhaust gas to the heat exchanger through the exhaust gas waste heat recovery device, and the generated hot water is used to preheat the air entering the computer room air conditioning system. At the same time, the waste heat of the coolant is used to preheat the domestic water through the heat exchanger. After the transformation, the energy utilization rate of the diesel generator in the data center increased by 30%, saving about 500 tons of diesel and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 1,500 tons each year, achieving good energy-saving, environmental protection and economic benefits.

Challenges and solutions

Although the thermal energy utilization of diesel generators has many advantages, it also faces some challenges in the process of promotion and application. For example, the initial investment of the thermal energy utilization system is large, which requires enterprises to have certain financial strength; the structure and operating parameters of different models of diesel generators vary greatly, requiring customized thermal energy utilization solutions; the maintenance and management requirements of the system are high, requiring professional technicians.

To solve these problems, the government can introduce relevant support policies, such as tax incentives and subsidies, to encourage enterprises to adopt thermal energy utilization technology; equipment manufacturers should strengthen research and development, develop standardized and modular thermal energy utilization equipment, reduce system costs and improve applicability; enterprises should strengthen employee training, improve the professional level of technicians, and ensure the stable operation of the system.

The utilization of heat energy from diesel generators is an energy-saving and emission-reduction technology with broad prospects. Through effective heat recovery and utilization, it can not only improve energy utilization efficiency and reduce operating costs, but also reduce environmental pollution, achieving a win-win situation of economic and environmental benefits. With the continuous advancement and promotion of technology, the utilization of heat energy from diesel generators will play a more important role in the energy field.

Nanyu Power has always adhered to the concept of green development and has taken the lead in the recovery and utilization of waste heat from diesel engines. At present, the company has some cases that have been piloted in Tibet. Welcome to the company for consultation and cooperation.

CCSN Power Inc. All Rights Reserved

Posted by: Zhang Jianlong

Reviewed and translated by: Kailon Chung