Generator Blog

America’s eyesores are becoming the hot places to install renewable energy for electric power generation. The land is cheap, often abandoned but properly zoned. They’re usually close to necessary infrastructure such as power lines and roads, and no other developers are rushing to erect anything on them. The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is evaluating sites for renewable energy potential on behalf of the EPA.

Brownfields could be former industrial sites abandoned when the owners went bankrupt. There might have been paint or fuel spills there, but the exact source of contamination may be unknown. However, superfund sites usually have a responsible party identified. Some brownfields are ready for redevelopment, but others need a lot of work first.

Photographing the sky for its solar potential
Salasovich and other traveling NREL engineers start with a device called a SunEye, which has a fish-eye lens to photograph the sky above the landfill. “We point it south and take a photo,” he says. “It puts out a spherical graph and shows where the shade will be by what time of day and what time of year.” An algorithm built into the device can detect differences between the sky and a tree.

If a site has wind potential, the engineers install a meteorological tower with instruments to read wind speed and direction, according to Joseph Roberts, an engineer with the National Wind Technology Center at NREL. After 12 months of measurements, they can find an average speed and see how it compares with data from nearby airports. Crew members also check the distance to the nearest roads and transmission lines, evaluating the sites’ potential for generating renewable energy and making it work economically.

NREL Engineers select potential plots from the EPA’s list of superfund and brownfield sites, as well as those identified by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). In some cases, the renewable energy apparatus in construction is powering the ongoing clean-up efforts at the sites. In other cases, the wind turbine, solar array, or hydro power is sending power to nearby cities. This is most feasible when the site is close enough to transmission wires to tie into the grid. There are about 11,000 sites in the U.S. with some past or current environmental contamination problem that may hold potential for renewable energy, according to Gail Mosey, senior energy analyst in the Strategic Energy Analysis Center. She says it’s a great opportunity to reuse land for power generation without help from fossil fuels.

Erecting devices without disturbing the contamination
Some sites, particularly superfund sites, are so contaminated with toxic chemicals and heavy metals that the earth should not be disturbed. However, Mosey explains, “There are a lot of others that can endure a slight intrusion. There are workable solutions for installing renewable energy on the surface or outside the contaminated area.” For example, solar arrays fit comfortably on top of the two feet of dirt and liner that typically cover a condemned landfill.
There are even wind turbines (supported by surface-mounted concrete footing) that can generate energy without burrowing into the muck of a superfund site. “These are places where you wouldn’t necessarily want to put a housing development, pour a foundation, or have people plant backyard gardens,” Mosey says, “but they are excellent sites for renewable energy.”

PHOENIX–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The National Renewable Energy Laboratory today released an initial study assessing the operational impacts and economics of increased contributions from wind and solar energy producers on the power grid. The Western Wind and Solar Integration Study examines the benefits and challenges of integrating enough wind and solar energy capacity into the grid to produce 35 percent of its electricity by 2017. The study finds that this target is technically feasible and does not necessitate extensive additional infrastructure, but does require key changes to current operational practice. The results offer a first look at the issue of adding significant amount of variable renewable energy in the West and will help utilities across the region plan how to ramp up their production of renewable energy as they incorporate more wind and solar energy plants into the power grid.

“If key changes can be made to standard operating procedures, our research shows that large amounts of wind and solar can be incorporated onto the grid without a lot of backup generation,” said Dr. Debra Lew, NREL project manager for the study. “When you coordinate the operations between utilities across a large geographic area, you decrease the effect of the variability of wind and solar energy sources, mitigating the unpredictability of Mother Nature.”

The study focuses on the operational impacts of wind, photovoltaics, and concentrating solar power on the power system operated by the WestConnect group of utilities in the mountain and southwest states. WestConnect is a group of transmission providers, which includes Arizona Public Service, El Paso Electric Co., NV Energy, Public Service of New Mexico, Salt River Project, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Cooperative, Tucson Electric Power, Western Area Power Administration, and Xcel Energy. Though wind and solar output vary over time, the technical analysis performed in this study shows that it is operationally possible to accommodate 30 percent wind and 5 percent solar energy penetration. To accomplish such an increase, utilities will have to substantially increase their coordination of operations over wider geographic areas and schedule their generation deliveries, or sales, on a more frequent basis. Currently generators provide a schedule for a specific amount of power they will provide in the next hour. More frequent scheduling would allow generators to adjust that amount of power based on changes in system conditions such as increases or decreases in wind or solar generation.

The study also finds that if utilities generate 27 percent of their electricity from wind and solar energy across the Western Interconnection grid, it would lower carbon emissions by 25 to 45 percent. It would also decrease fuel and emissions costs by 40 percent, depending on the future price of natural gas.

Other key findings from the study include:

• Existing transmission capacity can be more fully utilized to reduce the amount of new transmission that needs to be built.
• To facilitate the integration of wind and solar energy, coordinating the operations of utilities can provide substantial savings by reducing the need for additional back-up generation, such as natural gas-burning plants.
• Use of wind and solar forecasts in utility operations to predict when and where it will be windy and sunny is essential for cost-effectively integrating these renewable energy sources.

The study was undertaken by a team of wind, solar and power systems experts across both the private and public sectors. The study complements the recently released Eastern Wind Integration and Transmission Study, which examines the feasibility of integrating up to 30 percent wind in the eastern states.

The report released today is an important first step in assessing the impact of solar and wind energy on the electrical grid. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Department of Energy is investing more than $26 million to further study the Western transmission interconnection, which will help states, utilities, and grid operators prepare for future growth in energy demand, renewable energy resources, and Smart Grid technologies.

A vaneless ion wind generator is a device that produces electricity directly by using the wind to pump an electrical charge from one electrode to another. It is a type of wind power, although wind energy is usually extracted to make electricity by means of a wind turbine.

Electrostatic wind generators work by spraying water from a nozzle facing a toroidal charged electrode. This induces an opposite charge in the water and when the water flows out of the nozzle, each drop carries a small amount of charge. These water droplets are then blown by the wind, going through the center of the charged toroid without touching it. The droplets then hit a fine mesh, adding to its charge. The other alternative is to use the Earth as the second electrode. The main advantage of this system is that it has no moving parts except the water droplets. The disadvantages are that it needs a constant supply of water, its wind profile can’t be reduced, it requires many small parts, and it has to be well-crafted to reduce corona discharge losses.

A generator is a machine which is designed to generate AC electricity. Generators are used by companies for getting power to job sites where power may not be available and for homeowners to provide backup electricity in case of an extended power outage. Generators come in a variety of different sizes and designs. Picking the right one is an important step towards ensuring that your electrical needs are meet if the power goes out.

Standby Generators

Standby generators are larger generators which are designed specifically for the purpose of powering most or the entire house during an extended power outage. Most standby generators use a small car engine to operate the generator. Standby generators can be found in a variety of different sizes. The size is rated by the number of KW the generator can produce. Most home standby generators range between 20KW and 60KW. Industrial standby generators are significantly larger. These produce anywhere between 100KW and 1MW or mega watt. A megawatt is equal to 1000KW.

Fuel Sources for Standby Generators

Home standby generators are powered by either propane or natural gas. In most states it’s illegal to operate a gas or diesel powered stand by generator in a residential zone. Industrial standby generators are almost always powered by diesel.

Portable Generators

Any generator which is on wheels or designed to be moved is classified as a portable generator. Most portable generators are relatively small in size. These range between 1KW and 5KW. They are primarily used for providing power to tools in areas where power is not available. Larger portable units range between 5KW and 15KW. These can be used in the field as well but they are commonly used by homeowners to power small portions of their home if the power is out for an extended period of time.

Fuel Sources for Portable Generators

Nearly all portable generators run on standard gasoline. Some run on propane supplied by a small propane tank but these are rare.

Maintaining a Generator

Generators are all engine driven. Most portable models utilize engines that are similar in style to a lawnmower engine. Many of the home standby variety use a car engine. This means that generators need similar maintenance to a car.

Change Oil: The oil should be changed on a generator periodically. For models without an oil filter the oil should be changed every 50 hours or once a year. For models which do have an oil filter every 250 hours or once a year is recommended.

Air Filter: The air filter should be visually inspected every time the oil is replaced. If it appears dirty then it should be replaced with a new air filter.

Exercise: Generators should be run for one hour once a month. This keeps the engine running properly. This will also prevent the battery from wearing out if it is a model with a battery.

Inspect: Inspect the generator with every oil change. Look at the hoses and any belts. If you see any cracks or other signs of dry rot they should be replaced.

Foster Wheeler AG (Nasdaq: FWLT) announced today that a subsidiary of its Global Power Group has been awarded a contract to design, supply and erect a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) by the Spanish company, REPSOL PETROLEO S.A. The HRSG and auxiliary equipment will be integrated in a cogeneration plant being built at the REPSOL Cartagena Refinery in Murcia, Spain. Foster Wheeler will also provide start-up supervision services.

Foster Wheeler has received a full notice to proceed on this contract.

The HRSG will be coupled with a General Electric PG-6581 gas turbine and recover heat from the gas discharge stream, producing high pressure and medium pressure steam for use in refinery processes and electricity generation at the Cartagena facility. The unit will be equipped with a bypass stack and diverter, as well as post-firing and fresh air capability, for continuous operation even after a combustion turbine trip.

“This boiler is the seventh HRSG awarded to Foster Wheeler by REPSOL, a true testimony that Foster Wheeler meets the high degree of design and quality standards demanded by REPSOL,” said Eric Svendsen, chief executive officer of Foster Wheeler Energia, S.L. in Madrid.

Foster Wheeler AG is a global engineering and construction contractor and power equipment supplier delivering technically advanced, reliable facilities and equipment.The company’s Global Engineering and Construction Group designs and constructs leading-edge processing facilities for the upstream oil and gas, LNG and gas-to-liquids, refining, chemicals and petrochemicals, power, environmental, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and healthcare industries.

Event Horizon Solar & Wind supplies a range of wind generators and wind turbines from manufacturers such as Skystream and Whisper. The Skystream 3.7 wind generator is suitable for residential and small business power applications. An advantage of this model is that it can generate energy even in low wind conditions.

Skystream 3.7 Wind Generator

The Skystream 3.7 wind generator can be installed on towers with heights ranging from 33 feet to 110 feet. As this model can generate about 40 to 90% of the energy needs in a home, any excess is fed directly into the local grid. It has the capability to produce a continuous output of 1.9 kW with a peak output of 2.6kW. The Skystream 3.7 wind generator from Event Horizon Solar & Wind is connected to a 120 to 240 V AC universal inverter that aids in the process of grid feeding. The 3-blade construction of this model is built from fibreglass and rotates clockwise looking upwind.

With a rotor diameter of 12 feet, the Skystream 3.7 residential wind generator has an overall weight of 170 pounds. The rated speed of this model can range from 50 to 325 rotations per minute. The alternator, which is a part of the wind generator, is a slot-less permanent magnet. The maximum tip speed offered by the Skystream 3.7 wind generator from Event Horizon Solar & Wind is 216.5 feet per second.

Composite Technology Corporation manufactures different models of DeWind generators. The DeWind D6 wind generator is available with two rotor diameters of 62 meters and 64 meters. This generator comprises three blades made of GFRP material, and these blades have a swept area of 3,019 square meters. The blade of the DeWind DE wind generator is available in two lengths of 30 meters and 31 meters. The blade with a length of 31 meters has a swept area of 3217 square meters. The metal receptor at the tip of the GFRP blade provides protection against lightning. The wind generator comprises a tower made of tubular steel. The elastomer elements in the drive of the wind turbine function as a sound balancing feature.

DeWind D6 Wind Generators

The DeWind D6 wind generator has a nominal wind speed of 12.5 meters per second, while the survival wind speed of the turbine is 55.3 meters per second. The cut-in and cut-out wind speed of the wind generator from Composite Technology Corporation are 2.8 meters per second and 25 meters per second respectively. It also has survival wind speeds of 48.9 meters per second and 50.5 meters per second. The rotational speed of the DeWind D6 wind turbine can be controlled with the help of active blade adjustment option. The DeWind D6 wind generator produces 1250 kilowatts of power.

The wind generator from Composite Technology Corporation has a three stage planetary spurwheel gearbox with two transmission ratios of 1:50.5 and 1:53.1. Some of the other features incorporated in this wind generator include meteorology sensors, an IGBT inverter, disc brakes and three hydraulic geared drives.

The ring is designed for OEM installation or easy up-tower retrofit.

Electro Static’s shaft grounding ring prevents damage by channeling harmful shaft currents away from bearings.

Mechanic Falls, ME – By safely channeling harmful shaft currents away from bearings to ground, Electro Static Technology’s new AEGIS WTG wind turbine grounding ring prevents bearing damage that could otherwise cause generator failure, unplanned downtime, costly repairs, and lost revenues.

Maintenance-free, effective at any RPM, and available for any size wind turbine generator, the ring is designed for OEM installation or easy up-tower retrofit.

High-frequency currents induced on the shafts of wind turbine generators can reach levels of 60 amps and 1200 volts or greater.
If not diverted, these currents will discharge through the generator’s bearings, causing severe electrical damage that results in bearing failure and catastrophic turbine failure, sometimes in as little as six months or less.

The AEGIS WTG’s patented conductive microfiber technology effectively steers these currents away from the bearings and safely to ground.

The WTG is engineered to safely divert up to 120 amps of continuous shaft current at frequencies as high as 13.5 MHz and discharge up to 3000 volts (peak). Ideal for use as part of a preventive maintenance program to protect against premature bearing failures, it can be installed whenever bearings are replaced.

What can you do if you are out of power and need to charge your cell phone?  There are battery boosters, and fuel cell rechargers and now a new device that cranks energy with a yo-yo-like string.

The YoGen handheld charger for portable electronics was launched at CES and received recognition as a “Best of CES 2010″ item by Gadget-Gurus.

The 100 percent green, fully-sustainable device that creates levels of charge sufficient to ensure sustained use when a battery runs down. YoGen Sells for $39.95 and could come in handy in cases of a disaster or just when you forget to charge you phone. It works with most cell phones including iPhones, USB devices and Bluetooth headsets.

YoGen can echarge any small-to-mid-sized personal electronics device by offering the industry’s leading ratio of energy output to input.

Through repeated pulls on an attached ripcord, similar to the motion of a Yo-Yo, YoGen’s internal alternator generates power in to charge everything from cell phones, iPods, PDAs and MP3s to Gameboys, GPS units, cameras and other devices. The alternator interfaces with an energy-efficient electronic stabilizer and transmission to transfer linear kinetic energy through a patch cord from the compact, ergonomically-designed unit to the electronic device.

An engineer's sketch of the Cyclone Mark V external combustion engine.

An inventor and a generator manufacturer have come up with a new use for used motor oil.

Cyclone Power Technologies signed a deal with Phoenix Power Group on Thursday to develop an external combustion engine that runs on waste oil. The deal signs over waste-oil-related rights to Cyclone’s Mark V external combustion engine to the Phoenix Power, which plans to use the engine in its new Phoenix 5-Series Generator.

“Cyclone still retains rights for the Mark V with other fuels,” a Cyclone representative noted in an e-mail. “Phoenix Power only holds exclusive rights for generators running on waste oil.” The representative noted that the Mark V “runs on all fuels–including biofuels like algae and orange peels.”

Cyclone Power Technologies is the company founded by Harry Schoell, an inventor of an improved version of the steam engine that Popular Science named an “Invention of the Year” in 2008 and also garnered an award from the Society of Automotive Engineers. A description and video of Schoell’s steam engine invention, which can run on “virtually any fuel” can be found in a Popular Science profile on him in 2008. At the time he said he was planning to offer it to lawnmower manufacturers. Now, it seems, a modified version of that original Cyclone Engine, the Cyclone Mark V, will be used in power generators.

“The P5S is expected to be the first power generator capable of utilizing waste oil products, such as used motor/equipment oil, to produce electricity for on-site operational requirements or as a power grid feed, ” Phoenix Power Group said in a statement.

There is a reason why the Phoenix Power Group is so keen on used oil.

The generator designer and manufacturer is a subsidiary of the Atlantic Systems Group, a Harrisonburg, Va.-based company that designs and builds automotive oil change and service stations. That’s obviously a group of people who think a lot about used oil and its problem as a potential contaminate to our water supply. As it’s been noted before in other articles on motor oil, the Environmental Protection Agency contends that dumping the waste oil from just one car’s oil change into the ground can contaminate up to 1 million gallons of fresh water.