Emission characteristics of diesel engine-powered cogeneration systems

The industrial sector is a major electricity consumer. The growth rate of electricity demand is high especially in the developing countries and a continuous growth is anticipated for coming years. Many governments revise their energy policy introducing legislative and economic incentives to encourage private participation in the power generation investments. Generally, a favorable economic environment is created for the industries that make use of energy conservation, and cogeneration is an effective method of achieving this. Unfortunately power facilities have the potential of environmental pollution by the emission of harmful gases and other hazardous components. Power plants and cogeneration facilities emit some undesirable content in exhaust gases including solid particles, and these emissions, depending on their level, can be very harmful for human beings and other organisms (Frangopoulos, 1993; EPA, 2000).