Micro-cogeneration boiler: what is it?

This type of boiler applies the principle of cogeneration. The device thus combines in the same casing a heating body with condensation and one electricity generator. Micro-cogeneration refers to installations with a heat output of less than 36 kVA. Pioneering technology combines a main burner drink energy, gas Where fuel oil with a Stirling type engine. The latter uses part of the gases of combustion to run an electricity generator.

Wall-mounted or floor-standing, depending on the version, the micro-cogeneration boiler is no more voluminous than its condensing-only competitors. It makes it possible to cover all the needs in house heating and 50 to 80% of its electricity consumption.

The economic interest of the fuel cell

The latest evolution of micro-cogeneration replaces the stirling engine with a Fuel cell to heart ceramic. Barely larger than a hand, this cubic-shaped battery produces electricity by electrolytic reaction like a car battery. The heat resulting from the reaction is recovered and transferred to a storage tank which can be used for heating and sanitary water.

Thanks to “intelligent” regulation, the battery operates continuously and the condensing heating body is only used as a back-up if additional heat is required. Between 2015 and 2017, this new technology was put into practice in a thousand households in 11 countries of the European community as part of the ene.field project. The experiment confirmed its economic and ecological interest.