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Modular Packaged Systems
As stated elsewhere at this Website, all equipment required for creating integrated CHP systems are currently available and the custom systems provide many benefits to those who install them.
For better interoperability and marketability, CHP component manufacturers need to create systems that physically fit the generation and heating/cooling/dehumidification components together, plug-and-play modular systems. Systems where the power and thermal loads are well matched within the system, and have effective and standardized communication protocols between components within the system and with external energy control devices.
Designing plug-and-play systems for CHP systems is critical to reducing the time and effort required to integrate system components. Universal connection standards would greatly simplify installation and maintenance—and encourage acceptance of the technology by the architectural and engineering community. Simplified, pre-engineered, skid-mounted CHP systems would make building owners responsible only for connecting power, piping, and ducting. Controls may be connected to a local network, permitting onsite personnel to operate the equipment either directly or remotely from a PC.
Industry, government and academia are now working together to develop modular packaged systems for CHP. Such systems have the potential to maximize deployment of CHP systems, further increase their energy efficiency and reduce their costs.
On June 18, 2001 , Secretary Abraham announced the "First Generation" Packaged Cooling, Heating and Power Systems for Buildings awards. The following contracts were negotiated with seven industry teams for research, development and testing of new first generation packaged CHP systems for commercial and institutional buildings:
- Burns & McDonnell: 4.6 MW gas turbines and 2,500 RT lithium bromide absorption chillers (PDF)
- Honeywell: 2-5 MW gas turbine and 500 — 2,000 RT absorption chiller (PDF)
- United Technologies: 400 kW miniturbine with absorption chiller (PDF)
- Gas Technology Institute: 290-770 kW engine generator with absorption chiller (PDF)
- Ingersoll Rand: 70 kW microturbine with ammonia-water absorption chiller (PDF)
- Capstone Turbine: 60 kW microturbine with absorption chiller and desiccant dehumidifier (PDF)
- NiSource: Microturbines with advanced heat recovery for hotels (PDF)
Clicking on the above links will show one-page summaries of the projects.
According to DOE officials, modular packaged CHP systems for buildings will be a breakthrough in energy efficiency; CHP systems can offer up to a 30-40 percent improvement in a building’s energy efficiency over today’s best practices, leading to reduced energy and demand charges for the facility/building owners.
The DOE has installed a building integration "test site" at an office building on the campus of the University of Maryland. Some of the objectives of the test site are to study how the CHP system integrates with the building systems (HVAC and electrical) and how system integrates within itself. Ronald Fiskum, a Program Manager for DOE’s Office of Distributed Energy Resources, says, "In the near future, CHP for Buildings systems will be engineered in the factory — instead of in the field. The system behind the building here at the University of Maryland may one day be on just one skid. You bring the whole skid in, you hook up the electricals, and you’re ready to go." The Ron Fiskum conversation can be heard in Real Media.
A virtual tour of the test site at the University of Maryland provides a visual tour with written descriptions for each view of the site.
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