Polygeneration
Heat transformers Chillers and Heat Pumps

In the interests of rational energy use, there's no reason to stop at trithermal systems. As a result, more sophisticated systems exist that use more than three temperature levels. We'll mention just one here: trigeneration.

With a dither system, mechanical energy and medium-temperature heat can be generated from high-temperature heat. This medium-temperature heat can be recovered to operate a trithermal system. This coupling produces a quadrithermal system (figure 21):

• of heat is consumed at high temperatures at T_sc;

• mechanical energy is produced;

• heat is generated at a first intermediate temperature T_int,1.

  This heat is used in whole or in part to activate a sorption tritherm system and possibly to produce domestic hot water;

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