Different concepts of CHP plants

There are various concepts allowing a process to be carried out on the basis of cogeneration.

The most important types of plants are outlined in table 1.

Table 1: CHP concepts

Combined heat and power (CHP)
Steam cycle	with back-pressure turbine
Steam cycle	with extraction condensing turbine
Gas turbine cycle	with heat recovery
	"Cheng Cycle" (STIG-Cycle)
	Microturbine
Gas- and steam turbine cycle	with back-pressure turbine
Gas- and steam turbine cycle	with extraction condensing turbine
Diesel- and gas engine process
Alternative processes	Steam engine process
Alternative processes	ORC Process
Innovative processes	Fuel cell
	Stirling engine
	Steam screw-type engine
	Hot air turbine cycle
	Inverse gas turbine cycle

The microturbine process, the fuel cell as well as the gas and diesel engine process are typical exponents for decentralized plants that can be run as block heat and power plants.

A block heat and power plant is a CHP plant which is completely installed, delivered and run as a "block".