CHP technology for improved energy efficiency
Users and manufacturers call for standardization
An earlier approach to certification of CHP technology
Developing a well-balanced standard through consensus
New Standard lays out a certification path for a broad range of CHP technologies
The road ahead

CHP technology for improved energy efficiency

CHP systems use a single energy source to generate both electricity and thermal energy at the point of use. CHPs capture wasted thermal energy that can be used for heating or power generation, resulting in improved total energy use and efficiency. The overall energy efficiency of larger systems providing electricity and thermal energy separately ranges from 45 to 55%. A properly designed CHP system can operate with an overall efficiency of 65–85%¹.

CHP systems can use natural gas or other fuels as an energy source. By cogenerating heat and power, fuel is used more efficiently, helping reduce the overall costs. At the same time, cogeneration leads to significant carbon emission reductions compared to the conventional separate generation of power and heat².

By producing energy and heat at the point of use, CHP systems also reduce the energy transmission and distribution losses, contributing to further energy cost reductions. Power generated on site reduces the need to increase grid capacity, lowering upgrade costs for the utilities.

Users and manufacturers call for standardization

With all these benefits, it is not surprising that CHP appliances are becoming more popular and prevalent. But as with other new technologies, introduction to the market brings its own set of challenges. Users of CHP appliances, installers, as well as regulators require assurances that these devices meet expectations of safety and reliability.

Product certification is a well-recognized way to provide such assurances to end-users and regulators. However, without a technology-specific standard and a consistent set of requirements, manufacturers of CHP appliances are challenged with trying to obtain independent certification of their products. Instead, they have to go through a lengthy and often costly field evaluation process. In one instance, for example, a manufacturer approached two different providers to evaluate the same product. As each one applied different technical standards, the manufacturer ended up with two different products evaluated to different standards. This case illustrates that having a well-defined and clear path to certification is extremely important to organizations manufacturing and selling CHP appliances.

An earlier approach to certification of CHP technology

To address some of these challenges in Canada, CSA Group initially published a Technical Information Letter (TIL) No. R-10, covering Interim Certification Requirements for Thermoelectric Generators in 2001. While this was a step in the right direction, TIL No. R-10 did not apply to the full variety of CHP devices being introduced to the marketplace. At the same time, while TILs were accepted in Canada, this type of certification is not necessarily recognized in the USA. This presented a roadblock for manufacturers intending to export devices beyond the borders of Canada.

As CHP technology matured, it became obvious an accredited technical standard would be required to cover more than just thermoelectric generators. Moreover, CSA Group’s TIL was intended as an interim solution, so replacing it with a permanent, recognized standard was what manufacturers, end-users, and regulators expected.

Developing a well-balanced standard through consensus

Recognizing this need, CSA Group set out to develop a new bi-national standard that would support the implementation of a broad range of devices. With the guidance of CSA Group’s Strategic Steering Committee on Fuels and Appliances, Performance & Installation of Gas Burning Appliances & Related Accessories (Z21/83) Technical Committee, and Gas Appliances and Related Accessories Technical Committee, a Joint Technical Subcommittee on Standards for Combined Heat and Power Appliances was formed to start working on the draft standard. The Subcommittee had members from different organizations – regulatory bodies, gas safety associations, provincial regulators, gas utilities, as well as manufacturers – all bringing different perspectives to the development process.

The ambition to cover a broad range of CHP technologies made the development of the Standard more complex. “We had some unique challenges,” said Steve Worthington, Director of Engineering at Global Power Technologies, based in Alberta, Canada, and CSA Technical Subcommittee member. “Our company builds thermoelectric generators, and we are moving into internal combustion engine-based systems. But on the committee, we also had manufacturers building Stirling engines, which are completely different. Technically, there is very little overlap,” Steve explained. Therefore, the early part of the development focused on finding the common grounds and agreeing on what the standard should cover.

The consensus-based approach and balanced representation of stakeholders on the committee helped ensure that different perspectives were considered, and the resulting standard CSA/ANSI 13.1:22, Combined heat and power appliances, offers proper safety requirements for a wide variety of very complex equipment.

New Standard lays out a certification path for a broad range of CHP technologies

Combining design best practices and standardized requirements for cogeneration devices into a single standard is an important step in increasing user confidence while helping to ensure CHP devices entering the market meet expectations of safety and reliability. For manufacturers, CSA/ANSI 13.1:22 provides a clear set of requirements to meet in the design of newly produced CHP appliances with a maximum net electrical power output of 50kW. Manufacturers can now refer to the same standard regardless of the process, technology, components, and fuels used – whether they produce internal combustion CHPs, thermoelectric generators, exhaust heat reclaimers, fuel cell CHPs, vapor expansion cycle CHPs or Stirling engine CHPs.

For certification bodies, construction requirements and test methods outlined in the CSA/ANSI 13.1:22 Standard provide a basis to assess the safety of CHPs. Moreover, as the Standard has been approved by both the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a National Standard in both countries, it provides a harmonized path for product certification across Canada and the US and helps remove possible barriers for manufacturers.

From the perspective of users such as the gas utilities, the Standard brings the necessary confidence that the CHP appliances they use have been evaluated to a recognized bi-national standard. With CSA/ANSI 13.1:22 in place, they can better understand how the equipment was assessed, the testing that it’s been through, and the quality metrics that it meets.

“The development of CSA/ANSI 13.1 will contribute to a clear pathway to commercialization and use of micro-CHP devices [appliances with a maximum net electrical power output of 50 kW] in North America. The collaborative approach of CSA Group ensured that this standard would provide comprehensive coverage for many different micro-CHP devices that are available,” said CSA Technical Subcommittee Chair Kevin Larmer, Director, Innovation and Markets at the Canadian Gas Association.

For the natural gas distribution industry, it will help ensure that residential micro-CHP technologies will safely be made available for Canadians and Americans who are looking to have a resilient and reliable source of energy for their homes and businesses.”

The road ahead
Offering significantly higher energy efficiency and more effective use of propane and natural gas that leads to lower emissions, CHP applications are becoming more common in North America. To meet decarbonization and emission targets implemented to combat climate change, we expect these technologies and the entire gas industry to continue evolving toward using cleaner, more sustainable fuels. Across the industry, we already see a switch towards low-carbon and renewable fuels. Hydrogen-blended natural gas and, in the future, pure hydrogen are currently being evaluated as alternative fuels for appliances that currently use natural gas. CHP appliances could use these alternative fuels, which would help further expand the use of natural gas in both residential and industrial installations.

The CSA/ANSI 13.1:22 standard is available on the CSA Store.