Discuss the concept of co-generation, its merits and demerits.

    Merits of Co-generation:

1. Energy becomes energy saving and can be used efficiently.

2. Electric power and heat are got nearly simultaneously by cogeneration.

3. Comprehensive efficiency decreases.

4. Usable energy is 70-80 % of primary energy.

5. Energy costs, such as electric cost and fuel cost, can be reduced.

6. Cogeneration is excellent in economic efficiency compared with the conventional method.

7. Discharge of CO2, NO2 and SO3 can be suppressed.

    De-Merits of Co-generation:

1. While working, a mechanical sound is noisy.

2. So it may be affected in neighborhood.

3. Efficiency worsens as the case may be.

4. E.g. heating is not used b/w summer. At that time, Energy loss increases.

5. Equipment is having complicated structure.

6. It raises the probability of breaking down and the cost of a maintaince increased.