Objective
To demonstrate the high electrical efficiency and operational reliability of a new design of medium speed diesel engine. The engine will be installed in an existing geothermal district heating scheme which will also enable demonstration of the high heat recovery possibilities from the engine cooling systems, i.e. the exhaust gas; gas compressors; lube oil, engine jacket; and turbo changer. Heat from the higher grade exhaust gases will be used in an absorption heat pump regenerator to increase heat production from the geothermal energy in the heating season and chilled water for the district chilling system during the summer months.
A 5.7 MW engine fueled by natural gas and/or LFO will be incorporated into an existing geothermal district heating system. Electricity generated will be also sold into the local distribution system at 33 kV and will be purchased by PowerGen, one of the largest energy companies in the UK, under an innovative 10 year non-pooled generation contract. Heat recovered from cooling systems will supplement the existing heat sources for the district heating system. The engine selected will operate on gas compressed to 4 bar and fuel oil in varying mixtures and will switch automatically from gas fuel oil on failure of the gas supply to the plant.
The process will form part of the existing gas geothermal district heating system which comprises : - a 2 MW geothermal pumping and heat recovery system.
- two 0.5 MWe CHP generator.
- an absorption heat pump/chiller for operation with the geothermal well during winter months and to produce chilled water for the district cooling system during teh summer.
- a 2 MW heat only boiler.
Up to 5.8 MW of thermal energy will be recovered from the (5.7 MWe) gas/diesel engine at high temperature (135°C to 85°C) and medium temperature (85°C to 60°C). The high temperature hot water from the exhaust gas heat exchanger will be circulated to the absorption heat pump regenerator. In winter the heat pump will cool the district heating return water prior to passing it through the geothermal plate heat exchanger, to double the output of the geothermal well. The heat taken from the district heating water is rejected into the district circuit at an upgraded 70°C from the absorber's condenser circuit. In summer the high temperature heat will again drive the absorption process, but the evaporator will in this case generate chilled water at 6°C, using this waste heat from CHP and the low grade heat from the condenser will be rejected.
The 32 DF engine has a two needle injection valve. The bigger needle being for the diesel fuel operation and the secondngement for heavy fuel oil filtrations, heating and pumping.
Low and high temperature air coolers are installed to during heat when cooling requirements except heat demand.
The gas compressors process is shown on drawing B1641/HV/1774 B. A connection from the medium pressure (0.3 bar g) gas distribution system which runs alongside the heat and power station site will be made into the compressors room via an external metering station. The compressor is in four stages to produce a delivery pressure to the engine injections at 250 Bar g.
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
DEM - Demonstration contractsCoordinator
RH11 9BY WEST
United Kingdom