熱電廠，是指在發(fā)電的同時，還利用汽輪機的抽汽或排汽為用戶供熱的火電廠。主要工作原理是利用火力發(fā)電廠發(fā)電后的熱水，經過再次加熱后供暖。

在發(fā)電的同時，還利用汽輪機的抽汽或排汽為用戶供熱的火電廠。一般發(fā)電廠都采用凝汽式機組，只生產電能向用戶供電。工業(yè)生產和人們生活用熱則由特設的工業(yè)鍋爐及采暖鍋爐房單獨供應。這種能量生產方式稱為熱、電分產。在熱電廠中則采用供熱式機組，除了供應電能以外，同時還利用作過功（即發(fā)了電）的汽輪機抽汽或排汽來滿足生產和生活上所需熱量。這種能量生產方式稱為熱電聯(lián)產。

從能源利用效果考慮，熱電分產對能源使用很不合理：一方面熱功轉換過程(凝汽式機組發(fā)電)必然產生低品位熱能損失（汽機排汽在冷源中放熱),另一方面讓高品位熱能（鍋爐提供的蒸汽熱量）貶值地用于低品位供熱。在熱電聯(lián)產中燃料化學能則轉變?yōu)楦呶粺崮芟扔脕戆l(fā)電（高品位熱能），然后使用做過功的低品位熱能向用戶供熱，這符合按質用能和綜合用能的原則。

The thermal power plant refers to a thermal power plant that uses the extraction or exhaust steam of a steam turbine to supply heat to users while generating electricity. The main working principle is to use the hot water generated by the thermal power plant and heat it after heating again.

At the same time of power generation, it also uses the steam extraction or exhaust steam of the steam turbine to supply heat to the user. In general, power plants use condensing units, which only produce electricity to supply power to users. Industrial production and people's daily heat are supplied separately by special industrial boilers and heating boiler rooms. This type of energy production is called heat and electricity. In thermal power plants, heating units are used. In addition to supplying electrical energy, steam turbines or exhaust steam for over-current (ie, power generation) are used to meet the heat demanded for production and life. This type of energy production is called cogeneration.

From the perspective of energy utilization, thermoelectricity is very unreasonable for energy use: on the one hand, the thermal power conversion process (condensation unit power generation) inevitably produces low-grade heat energy loss (the steam exhaust of the turbine is radiated in the cold source). On the other hand, high-grade heat energy (steam heat supplied by the boiler) is depreciated for low-grade heating. In cogeneration, the fuel chemical energy is converted into high-level heat energy for power generation (high-grade heat energy), and then the low-grade heat energy for the work is used to supply heat to the user, which is in line with the principle of energy use and comprehensive energy use.