By tri-generation is meant the cooling energy production starting from thermal power produced in co-generation. Tri-generation is therefore a process producing electric, thermal and cooling power through the highly efficient use of a primary fuel (for instance natural gas).

In traditional cases, cooling energy – in the form of cooled water for cooling and environmental conditioning, is being produced with traditional compression cooling cycles using electric power; these machines are nowadays the cause for the great increase of electric consumption occurring in summer. Heat&Power has developed a highly efficient standard solution, schematized in the figure below, through which it provides cooling energy and brings about savings and environmental advantages. Such a solution is based on absorption cycle, which, rather than implementing a mechanic compression of the cooling fluid, uses a simple chemical process, by which a fluid evaporates at low temperature in presence of a low pressure.

The core of this plant is a particular reliable and extremely silent machine called Absorption Chiller, the electric consumption of which is very low. The difference with regard to a traditional co-generation plant is that during the months in which users ask for cooling energy, thermal energy coming out from the co-generator is sent to the Absorption Chiller which produces cooling energy sending it to the customer’s plant in the form of cold water.

Thanks to Heat&Power’s control sophisticated system, thermal energy and cooling energy may be simultaneously supplied in order to fulfill customers’ requirements and maximize profits. The plant is totally managed by Heat&Power by remote control, through its Control Room.