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6/15/2004
Environmentally friendly power generator unveiled
CHP operates at almost twice normal efficiency rate
By Andrew Tran
Mayor Will Wynn cut the ribbon at the Domain Industrial Park on Monday to unveil the first cooling, heating and power generator (CHP) in the world that is environmentally friendly and money-saving.
The system, built for use by large businesses, runs on natural gas and uses no freon in the chilling process.
"Not only is it the right thing to do for the environment, it's economical as well," Wynn said.
Normal power generators usually operate at a 35-percent to 45-percent efficiency rate. The new generator works at a rate of more than 70 percent. Normal power generators have turbines that create electricity and produce immense heat that gets released into the atmosphere. In a CHP generator, this heat is channeled into an absorption chiller that delivers 2,500 tons of chilled water - enough to air condition 1 million square feet of office space.
The system was developed through a public-private partnership among the U.S. Department of Energy, the engineering firm Burns & McDonnell, Austin Energy and manufacturer Broad, USA.
Austin Energy will own and operate the $8.3-million, 4.5-megawatt CHP system.
"The actual implementation of all these other ideas toward a goal of this magnitude is just incredible," said Richard Sweetser, president of energy company EXERGY Partners Corp.
Previously, companies found it inefficient to implement CHPs because hiring engineers and buying the components was too costly, said Ronald Fiskum, an integrated systems technical manager for the DOE.
The new CHPs are pre-built, which helps keep the technology efficient and attractive to price-sensitive businesses, Fiskum said.
Fiskum added that he hopes CHPs will appeal to businesses, hospitals and college campuses that are environmentally concious or concerned with their budgets.
Austin Energy spokesman Ed Clark said the new power generator is like a car that gets 30 miles per gallon, but coasts at between 45 mpg and 50 mpg after an upgrade.
"That would be pretty revolutionary for the car industry, and it certainly is for the power industry," he said.
