Previous in Forum: Synchronous Generator Keeps Stopping   Next in Forum: Power Factor Calculation?
Close
Close
Close
4 comments
Rate Comments: Nested
Member

Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 7

Electric Generators - Combined Heat and Power

08/20/2009 12:08 PM

I am looking for electric generators (IC or maybe small turbines, rated 480 VAC, 250-500 KW range or lower) with heat recovery "Built-in". Collect waste heat from water jacket and exhaust and then heat water (drinking water). Have you guys worked with units of this kind before?

Register to Reply
Pathfinder Tags: combined heat and power
Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.
Guru
United States - Member - New Member Engineering Fields - Power Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: California, USA, where the Godless live next door to God.
Posts: 4665
Good Answers: 804
#1

Re: Electric Generators - Combined Heat and Power

08/20/2009 4:26 PM

I did a project with these people, excellent system. Clean, quiet and so far, reliable.

Capstone

__________________
** All I every really wanted to be, was... A LUMBERJACK!.**
Register to Reply
Power-User
Australia - Member - New Member Hobbies - Target Shooting - New Member Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member

Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 480
Good Answers: 35
#2
In reply to #1

Re: Electric Generators - Combined Heat and Power

08/20/2009 6:45 PM

I'll second that. Capstone units are quite, low maintenance and relatively compact.

Regards,
Sapper

__________________
It's all about the Boom! - MythBusters
Register to Reply
Guru

Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: South of Minot North Dakota
Posts: 8376
Good Answers: 775
#3

Re: Electric Generators - Combined Heat and Power

08/20/2009 9:20 PM

I've seen a few off grid people that use small 15 KW propane powered gen sets to charge battery banks that drive inverters for their homes low power items. They run the gen sets every other day or so to charge up the batteries while also powering the heavy electrical load items like washing machines and other intermittent higher power use stuff. They collect the excess heat off the engine and exhaust and heat up large well insulated tanks of water for the domestic uses like showers and doing the wash.

Its super efficient use of fuel and probably one of the best ways to get both heat and electricity off of their fuel while wasting nothing.

My house is primarily heated by my shop boiler. I too have considered setting up a co-generation system to use a similar concept. But my thoughts are to use a modified diesel engine that burns used oil instead. I can get it for near free in large enough volumes to justify it. By co generating electricity (legal here) the engine has a load and will offset my electrical usage while the waste heat from the engine and exhaust will get captured and used for heating purposes.

Register to Reply
Power-User

Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 284
Good Answers: 18
#4

Re: Electric Generators - Combined Heat and Power

08/20/2009 11:00 PM

I market systems for precisely this kind of application. The US makers have figured out (and patented) a way to make combined-cycle systems, as opposed to the single-cycle systems what everyone else has done to date.

The result: 20% efficiency (electric power out vs thermal power in), where single-cycle systems can only get 10-12% efficiency max on 60 F days.

Let me know if you need more info:

stratos@spp-consultants.com

Cheers!
DZ

__________________
Do unto others. Then run.
Register to Reply
Register to Reply 4 comments
Copy to Clipboard

Users who posted comments:

DreadZontar (1); JRaef (1); Sapper (1); tcmtech (1)

Previous in Forum: Synchronous Generator Keeps Stopping   Next in Forum: Power Factor Calculation?

Advertisement