Steam Condensing Stirling Engine
ReGen Power has completed the design of two low temperature Stirling
engines. The first is a 250C engine which utilizes heat from high
temperature waste heat streams. This system will be able to convert this
waste heat at 25% thermo electric efficiency. The second engine (100C)
utilizes low pressure steam as the heat source. Post process steam
sources are routed to the engines hot side heat exchanger where it
condenses, releasing the latent heat into the engine. The Stirling engine
converts 13% of the heat energy into electricity.
This added power is combustion and emission free. ReGen determined
that the minimum power output for these markets should be 200kW to
keep the cost/kW in a competitive range. Engines having output up to
2,000kW appear feasible. Several such engines ganged together would
serve the “sweet spot” of the market, 3-10MW. One patent has been
granted (U.S. Patent 6,568,169), and several additional patents are being
applied for. Unlike other Stirling engines of the past 50 years, ReGen's
was designed solely for the needs of the stationary power generation
market. Little or no consideration was given to such factors as physical
size or power-to-weight ratio, for example, which were key factors in the
design of Stirling engines for automotive use. Instead, the following goals,
considered to be of primary importance for power generation, were
adopted as the guiding design parameters:
engines. The first is a 250C engine which utilizes heat from high
temperature waste heat streams. This system will be able to convert this
waste heat at 25% thermo electric efficiency. The second engine (100C)
utilizes low pressure steam as the heat source. Post process steam
sources are routed to the engines hot side heat exchanger where it
condenses, releasing the latent heat into the engine. The Stirling engine
converts 13% of the heat energy into electricity.
This added power is combustion and emission free. ReGen determined
that the minimum power output for these markets should be 200kW to
keep the cost/kW in a competitive range. Engines having output up to
2,000kW appear feasible. Several such engines ganged together would
serve the “sweet spot” of the market, 3-10MW. One patent has been
granted (U.S. Patent 6,568,169), and several additional patents are being
applied for. Unlike other Stirling engines of the past 50 years, ReGen's
was designed solely for the needs of the stationary power generation
market. Little or no consideration was given to such factors as physical
size or power-to-weight ratio, for example, which were key factors in the
design of Stirling engines for automotive use. Instead, the following goals,
considered to be of primary importance for power generation, were
adopted as the guiding design parameters:
- Good electrical efficiency (13% for steam, 25% for industrial heat)
- Long life (>100,000 hours)
- Low maintenance costs ($0.006/kWh)
- Competitive capital cost ($1000-2000/kW installed)
ReGen Power Systems
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