Electricity

The use of hot water, thermal oil or steam for conversion into electricity can also represent an economic saving.

In this case, the hot water, thermal oil or steam is used to generate electricity via a turbine or motor on a generator.

A distinction is made between direct and indirect conversion for electricity generation.

In direct systems with steam, the steam is fed directly into a turbine, which uses the steam as drive energy for a downstream generator. The partially condensed steam is then fully condensed with a cooling system and fed back into the boiler.

In indirect systems such as hot water or thermal oil, these energy sources are fed to a heat exchanger filled with a medium with a low evaporation point. By transferring the energy to this medium, it is vaporized and the increase in pressure is used in a motor or turbine to drive a generator. Like the water vapor, the medium must be completely condensed after leaving the motor or turbine before it can be fed to the pump. These systems are also known as ORC systems.