Post on 19-Dec-2015
Energy and Sustainable Systems
Power Technology Today and Tomorrow --Paths To A Sustainable Future
Ken StrohLos Alamos National LaboratoryLos Alamos, New Mexico
Altering The Profile Of The Future:High Performance Design & ConstructionBren School, UCSBApril 20, 2002
Energy and Sustainable Systems
Distributed Power - Today• Produce electric power or
mechanical shaft power close to point of use
• Transmission losses can approach zero
• Power reliability improved
• Potential to use “waste” heat
• Reduced life-cycle costs and attractive return on investment
• Even when supplemented by grid power, demand charges and peak energy charges reduced
Energy and Sustainable Systems
Distributed Power Alternatives
Turbines / Microturbines
Reciprocating Engines
Fuel Cells
Energy and Sustainable Systems
A Future PowerNet?
A multitude of flexible, diverse distributed power generators and Internet communications combine to
– Enable a robust PowerNet
– Automatically dispatch “best” combination of nearby generators to meet local load requirements
» Cleanest?» Most efficient?» Cheapest?
– Individuals and businesses can be producers or consumers of power (or both depending on instantaneous needs & capacity)
– Self healing net , no single-point failures
Energy and Sustainable Systems
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) - Today
Distributed production of electricity or shaft power on-site, with provision for using “waste” heat
Captured thermal energy can supplement or replace on-site fuel-fired or electric heating
Electric loads on site can be further reduced using “thermally activated” cooling and humidity control equipment
Energy and Sustainable Systems
Combined Heat and Power Example
33% Efficient
85% Efficient
52% Efficient 85% Efficient
50% Efficient
35% Efficient
Conventional Generation
Combined Heat and Power
• Thermal losses <1/5 of conventional
• Energy-related water use from <1/5 to zero
• 40% less fuel used (which lowers emissions)
• Low-carbon fuels can substitute for coal-fired generation
Energy and Sustainable Systems
Combined Heat and Power Systems
CHP Systems are most viable if you have
• Reasonable thermal demand
• Thermal and electric demand match technology
• High occupancy rates/operating hours
• Need for high-quality or backup power coincident with thermal demand
• New construction or major renovation
• Centralized heating and cooling facilities
• Longer-term financial returns acceptable
• Summer peak electric rates
• High electric demand charges and peak energy usage charges
Energy and Sustainable Systems
Heat Recovery Example
Energy and Sustainable Systems
Thermally Activated Equipment
Absorption Chiller Desiccant Dehumidifier
• Space conditioning requires temperature and humidity control for comfort and to control microorganism growth
• A typical approach to humidity control is to over-cool incoming air to drop water out and then reheat air for temperature control
• Thermal energy from “waste” heat can replace shaft power and fired heat
Energy and Sustainable Systems
Policy & Regulations – Federal, State & Local
Administration leads strong federal support for CHP– National Energy Policy– DOE & OGA Programs
» Technical» Grants
State & local differences exist in policies, regulations and incentives
DOE establishing 8 CHP Regional Application Centers (RACs) http://www.bchp.org/policy.html
Energy and Sustainable Systems
What Might Reshape Our Energy Future?
A sustainable (clean & renewable) energy system based on
Hydrogen that is affordable, domestically produced from diverse sources, and safely stored, dispensed and used
Fuel cells for energy conversion, in flexible systems used in all energy sectors and all regions of the country
Energy and Sustainable Systems
Fuel Cells Are Like Batteries That You Supply Fuel To As Needed
Electricity
Pure Water
A fuel cell converts the chemical energy in hydrogen to electricity and water
Many cells are stacked together to get desired power
Hydrogen
Oxygen from air
How Fuel Cells Work
Energy and Sustainable Systems
Where Do You Get Hydrogen?
Hydrogen can be extracted from fossil fuels, including gasoline, diesel, natural gas, propane or coal as needed, or through electrolysis of water using electricity from conventional power plants
Hydrogen can be made from renewable power systems
– from water using electricity from solar photovoltaic or wind or using direct processes– from methane gas from landfills, waste treatment or biomass processing
Energy and Sustainable Systems
Fuel Cell Systems Are Being DevelopedFor A Range of Powers
Residential 1 - 10kW, Automotive & Buildings 50 - 75kW, Industrial 200kW - 3MW
Power more reliable than from grid Thermal power for heating/cooling available at
about same level as electrical output Excess power can be sold or used within the
community Systems are still expensive - government
subsidies may be available for cost difference Still developmental
Energy and Sustainable Systems
Small Residential Scale Systems --Not (Quite) Ready For Prime Time
Residential systems from 1-10kW are being developed
Energy and Sustainable Systems
Home Power Generation Example
HomeGen 7000 GE/PlugPower– Fuel Processor for Natural Gas
or Propane– Fuel Cell System– Inverter / Power Conditioner– Waste heat interface– 45”W x 30”L x 55”H
– 40% efficient at 2 kW
– 29% efficient at 7 kW
– > 75 % Energy Recovery (w/Thermal)
– Commercial Offer Date/Price TBDImage by GE / Plug-Power
Energy and Sustainable Systems
Utility / Building / Industrial Power Plants
Systems from 200kW to 3MW are being developed
Energy and Sustainable Systems
Available Now
UTC Fuel Cells and its licensees have delivered more than 200 PC25™ systems and have installed units in 15 countries on four continents
Energy and Sustainable Systems
Clean Transportation May ActivateHuge Market Forces
Hydrogen fuel cell cars and buses are being developed
Energy and Sustainable Systems
Your Parking Lot (Or Garage)As A Power Source?
If 6% of the automobiles in California were mid-sized fuel cell vehicles, they would represent an electric generating capacity exceeding what is currently generated statewide
Power demand peaks during the day when people are at work and their cars are in the parking lot
DOE is exploring the idea of “power parks” based on these mobile distributed generators
Some day you may plug your home into your electric car rather than charging your car through your home from the grid
The Fuel Cell National Resource CenterAt Los Alamos National Laboratory
No appropriate facility exists at Los Alamos
No appropriate facility exists in DOE complex
Activity and facility need to
– Be visible and accessible
– Enable exceptional safety and performance
– Reflect positively on the Department and Los Alamos
– Reflect a sustainable energy future
– Be flexible to respond to changing program direction
Activity and facility need to
– Be visible and accessible
– Enable exceptional safety and performance
– Reflect positively on the Department and Los Alamos
– Reflect a sustainable energy future
– Be flexible to respond to changing program direction
Sustainable by Design
FCNRC will pilot LANL sustainable building approach, drawing on Best Practices of
– US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) rating system
– EPA/DOE Labs21 Program (21st Century Laboratories)
– GSA Design Excellence Program Guidance
– DOE High Performance Building Initiative
– DoD Sustainable Systems guidance & lessons learned
– Related programs and policies Experience indicates a whole-building design approach
has comparable first costs and much reduced life-cycle costs
LANL effort on sustainable design provided via overhead through the Environmental Stewardship Office
FCNRC Fuel Cell & HydrogenDemonstration Opportunity
Will consider PEM fuel cell system for building’s combined heat and power, deriving hydrogen from natural gas
– LANL has limited grid interconnects and projects electrical power shortfall
– Overall efficiency with waste heat application could be 75-85%
– Technology validation and workforce training opportunity
– Public demonstration and outreach opportunity
– Could divert and purify portion of hydrogen-rich gas stream, for use in vehicles or other demonstrations
– Could couple with renewable hydrogen demonstration
– Los Alamos could be one end of a clean transportation corridor with Albuquerque (SNL, Kirtland AFB, DOE/ALOO)
– Redundant, diverse source of on-site power could support LANL emergency operations
Energy and Sustainable Systems
Sources For Information(Both Technical and Financial)
DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Network http://www.eren.doe.gov/
DOE Cooling, Heating and Power for Buildings (technology & state-by-state information) http://www.bchp.org/
DOE/EERE Regional Offices (implement EERE strategies at state & local level) http://www.eren.doe.gov/rso.html
Hydrogen Information Network http://www.eren.doe.gov/hydrogen/
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Investor http://www.h2fc.com/defaultIE4.html
Fuel Cells 2000 http://www.fuelcells.org/
Energy and Sustainable Systems
Contact Info
Ken StrohEnergy and Sustainable Systems Program Office(505) 667-7933(505) 667-4098 Faxstroh@lanl.govhttp://www.lanl.gov/mst/fuelcells/
Fuel cell Green Power brochure can be found athttp://education.lanl.gov/resources/fuelcells/