Related Sections: Green Tech
New York Marriott now generating its own super-efficient power with microturbines
The New York Marriot Downtown in Manhattan just started generating most of its own electrical power, offsetting 5800 megawatt hours per year. That’s enough to power 700 homes. It’s not using some inefficient diesel generator to do that that, either. Last week, the hotel flipped on a sophisticated system of 11 microturbines that crank out huge amounts of wattage at a rate that’s three times more efficient than a conventional power plant.
The “tri-generation” PureComfort system, built by UTC Power, does a lot more than just generate megawatts. Waste heat from the natural gas-powered turbines is used for hot water, space heating, and in a counterintuitive trick, air conditioning. Marriott hopes to save $80,000 annually using this off-the-grid tech.
Nobody’s talking about the price of these turbines, which resemble small jet engines integrated with an electric generator, but we’re wishing UTC could scale this down to a size we could use in an individual house. Maybe we could combine this tech with the garbage-fueled “Mr. Fusion” generator, add a few solar panels, and then we could go completely (and comfortably) off the grid.
Sustainable Life Media and Distributed Energy
By CJW at 1:32 PM ON 06/11/08
Nearly all of the energy on Earth is the result of fusion power. A large enough solar farm in the middle of Nevada could power the nation. Distribution is another story, however. 15 years ago, Pop Sci ran a story about a solar farm based on 10% efficiency, saying if one was built, 100 miles x 100 miles in size, it would provide enough energy for the country. This took into account the room for infrastructure and rotating bases and such. Things have come a ways since then, so while it's still infeasible, it isn't totally outside the realm of possibility in a dire energy crunch.
I don't know that I'd want a scaled down consumer version of a gas turbine anywhere near my house. I don't think my power company would either.
By wintermute at 2:43 PM ON 06/11/08
I actually work in this industry. The reason why you don't see scaled down versions is that it doesn't make sense economically...Which you'd expect. It's actually prety hard even to do a larger project like this. The problem is interconnection to the grid (large upfront expense) and you really, really have to have a use for all the excess steam that's generated (uncommon). Otherwise you're wasting energy and it drives up the payback. It's a great fit for hotels though, because they usually do their laundry in-house so they can use the extra steam for that. For most users though it would be a lot more steam than they could ever possibly use.
By stevenjyaya at 7:03 AM ON 06/12/08
The turbines UTC uses in the system pictured above are manufactured by Capstone Turbine.
They don't produce steam, they generate an ultra-clean exhaust of approx 550F degrees.
The hot air is so clean that running one of these on a street-corner in LA would act as an atmosphere scrubber. Greenhouses use the exhaust by directly pumping it into the buildings where workers are present all day long.
The exhaust component is used to heat buildings, water, swimming pools, generate even more electricity ... and cool all kinds of buildings ... from wineries to the Reagan Library (including the huge space housing Air Force One).
Once the turbines and their exhaust are configured for the space, they achieve 90% efficiency ... a 300% improvement over Central Power and Legacy.
By wisco at 10:19 AM ON 06/12/08
on your cellphone!
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wisco:
These do exist for homes and are used in Japan already. http://www.climat...More »