Combined heat and power system

Abstract

A combined heat and power system comprising an electric power generator configured to receive gaseous fuel and output electricity at a voltage level to an electrical grid and hot exhaust, a heat exchanger comprising a water input line, a water output line and a heat exchanger coil connecting the water input line and the water output line, wherein the heat exchanger coil is thermally adapted to the hot exhaust and a blower configured for selectively drawing ambient air to be mixed with the hot exhaust, whereby when hot water is demanded, the blower is not enabled and when hot water is not demanded, the blower is turned on to draw ambient air that is mixed with the hot exhaust such that the temperature of the hot exhaust can be reduced.

What is claimed herein is: 
     
         1 . A combined heat and power system comprising:
 (a) an electric power generator configured to receive gaseous fuel and output hot exhaust and electricity at a voltage level;   (b) at least one heat exchanger comprising a fluid input line, a fluid output line and a heat exchanger coil connecting said fluid input line and said fluid output line and adapted to prepare a hot fluid, wherein said at least one heat exchanger is thermally adapted to the hot exhaust; and   (c) a blower configured for selectively drawing ambient air to be mixed with the hot exhaust, whereby when the hot fluid is demanded, said blower is not enabled and a fluid is drawn through said fluid input line and delivered at said fluid output line to cause heat recovery from the hot exhaust to the fluid and when the hot fluid is not demanded, said blower is turned on to draw ambient air that is mixed with the hot exhaust such that the temperature of the hot exhaust can be reduced.   
     
     
         2 . The combined heat and power system of  claim 1 , wherein said voltage level is disposed at a level of from about 5 V to about 30 V higher than the supply voltage of a public electrical grid such that electricity generated of said electric power generator may be transmitted via the public electrical grid. 
     
     
         3 . The combined heat and power system of  claim 1 , wherein said electric power generator is a micro turbine. 
     
     
         4 . The combined heat and power system of  claim 1 , wherein said electric power generator is a solid oxide fuel cell. 
     
     
         5 . The combined heat and power system of  claim 1 , wherein said electric power generator comprises a common exhaust conductor configured for receiving the hot exhaust. 
     
     
         6 . The combined heat and power system of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one heat exchanger is adapted to receive heat from a burner and output exhaust adapted to be emptied into said common exhaust conductor. 
     
     
         7 . The combined heat and power system of  claim 5 , wherein said common exhaust conductor is a plastic duct. 
     
     
         8 . The combined heat and power system of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid is water. 
     
     
         9 . The combined heat and power system of  claim 1 , wherein the output of said electric power generator is functionally connected to a local network. 
     
     
         10 . A combined heat and power system comprising:
 (a) an electric power generator configured to receive gaseous fuel and output hot exhaust and electricity at a voltage level disposed at a level of from about 5 V to about 30 V higher than the supply voltage of a public electrical grid such that electricity generated of said electric power generator may be transmitted via the public electrical grid;   (b) at least one heat exchanger comprising a fluid input line, a fluid output line and a heat exchanger coil connecting said fluid input line and said fluid output line and adapted to prepare a hot fluid, wherein said at least one heat exchanger is thermally adapted to the hot exhaust; and   (c) a blower configured for selectively drawing ambient air to be mixed with the hot exhaust, whereby when the hot fluid is demanded, said blower is not enabled and a fluid is drawn through said fluid input line and delivered at said fluid output line to cause heat recovery from the hot exhaust to the fluid and when the hot fluid is not demanded, said blower is turned on to draw ambient air that is mixed with the hot exhaust such that the temperature of the hot exhaust can be reduced.   
     
     
         11 . The combined heat and power system of  claim 10 , wherein said electric power generator is a device selected from the group consisting of a micro turbine and a solid oxide fuel cell. 
     
     
         12 . The combined heat and power system of  claim 10 , wherein said electric power generator comprises a common exhaust conductor configured for receiving the hot exhaust. 
     
     
         13 . The combined heat and power system of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one heat exchanger is adapted to receive heat from a burner and output exhaust adapted to be emptied into said common exhaust conductor. 
     
     
         14 . The combined heat and power system of  claim 12 , wherein said common exhaust conductor is a plastic duct. 
     
     
         15 . The combined heat and power system of  claim 10 , wherein said fluid is water. 
     
     
         16 . A combined heat and power system comprising:
 (a) an electric power generator configured to receive gaseous fuel and output hot exhaust and electricity at a voltage level;   (b) at least one heat exchanger comprising a water input line, a water output line and a heat exchanger coil connecting said water input line and said water output line adapted to prepare a hot water supply, wherein said at least one heat exchanger is thermally adapted to the hot exhaust; and   (c) a blower configured for selectively drawing ambient air to be mixed with the hot exhaust, whereby when the hot water supply is demanded, said blower is not enabled and a water flow is drawn through said water input line and delivered at said water output line to cause heat recovery from the hot exhaust to the water flow and when the hot water supply is not demanded, said blower is turned on to draw ambient air that is mixed with the hot exhaust such that the temperature of the hot exhaust can be reduced.   
     
     
         17 . The combined heat and power system of  claim 16 , wherein said voltage level is disposed at a level of from about 5 V to about 30 V higher than the supply voltage of a public electrical grid such that electricity generated of said electric power generator may be transmitted via the public electrical grid. 
     
     
         18 . The combined heat and power system of  claim 16 , wherein said electric power generator is a device selected from the group consisting of a micro turbine and a solid oxide fuel cell. 
     
     
         19 . The combined heat and power system of  claim 16 , wherein said electric power generator comprises a common exhaust conductor configured for receiving the hot exhaust. 
     
     
         20 . The combined heat and power system of  claim 19 , wherein said common exhaust conductor is a plastic duct.