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Natural
Gas Power Production | Power
outages result in lost productivity, damage to refrigerated inventory, safety
and security issues as well as the loss of customers and opportunities. The need
for reliable electrical power is a priority issue across the nation. To help solve
these issues, new technologies have emerged such as the fuel cell and microturbines.
As a result, businesses have been given an increasing variety of power production
options. Some of the options are as follows: - Cogeneration
(also called Combined Heat and Power or CHP)
- Natural
Gas Engines
- Emerging
Technologies
Cogeneration,
(also called Combined Heat and Power or CHP), is the simultaneous production of
electricity, heating and cooling in a single process and with an overall efficiency
exceeding 70%. 
Over
the years, the refinement and development of cogeneration technology has resulted
in overall efficiency reaching as high as 90%. Through the utilization of heat
from electric generation and the avoidance of transmission losses because of on-site
generation, cogeneration can reduce primary energy usage compared with power stations
and heat only boilers. Also, cogeneration can and does reduce the emissions of
pollutants to the environment, and can reduce your energy costs. Emerging
Technologies – this area of technology and development is working on several
innovative devices to deliver useful, efficient, reliable and environmentally
friendly electrical energy. Some of the devices being developed and in use are
microturbines, and fuel cells. The
future of power generation and distribution is moving toward powerful small-scale
solutions that are located on the premises – in hotels, office and apartment buildings,
greenhouses and factories. These units also provide heat as well as electricity.
This combination of heat and electricity production increases the overall efficiency
of the units. The microturbine is an answer to small-scale electricity generation.
Microturbine technology has emerged from four different technologies: small gas
turbines, auxiliary power units, automotive development gas turbines and turbochargers.
The term "microturbine" refers basically to high-speed turbines in the
size range of 15-300 kw.
| Another
new technology for generating electric power without the direct use of any mechanical
equipment is the FUEL CELL. There are more than a dozen variants of fuel cells.
All units basically use the same concept. Typically, Hydrogen and Oxygen are electro-chemically
combined, in a system, similar to a battery, and direct-current electricity is
produced. This direct-current electricity is then passed through an inverter to
convert to AC power. The potential of the fuel cell is the potential to nearly
eliminate emissions with near perfect reliability. The fuel cell, in its operation,
provides both electric power and heat that is used to furnish hot water and/or
building/area heating. |
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Natural
gas engines have been used for years as the driving force to provide electric
power. They have typically been used in stand-by or emergency power generation.
They are available as prime movers for permanent service. These units are available
in a wide range of output capacities. With natural gas as the fuel of choice,
they operate with reduced exhaust emissions. Should
you have an interest in any of the items above, please give us a call at Roanoke
Gas – 777-3969. |
