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Distributed energy generators

Distributed energy generators (DGs) are Any technology that produces power
outside of the utility grid are usually small scale power generation used to provide
an alternative to or an enhancement of the traditional electric powersystem the
usual problem with the distributed generators are their high costs . but laterly the
governments all over the world supported the (DGs) because of the higher
increase in the electrical loads and the bad effect of the old types of electricity
generation as power plants on the environment.

Types of distributed energy generators :1.

2.
3.
4.
5.

Microturbines .
Internal combustion engines .
Fuel cells .
Photovoltaic systems .
Wind systems .

1) microturbines :
Introduction : Microturbines are a relatively
new distributed generation technology being
used for stationary energy generation
applications. They are a type of combustion
turbine that produces both heat and
electricity on a relatively small scale.
Microturbines offer several potential
advantages compared to other technologies
for small-scale power generation, including: a
small number of moving parts, compact size,
lightweight, greater efficiency, lower
emissions, lower electricity costs, and
opportunities to utilize waste fuels. Waste
heat recovery can also be used with these
systems to achieve efficiencies greater than
80%.

Technology

Benefits & usage

Microturbines

Electrical output .
Thermal output for residential or small
commercial apps
Operable as base, peaking, or back-up

Efficiency is 28%
to 33%

limitations

Fuel
Choice

Insufficient Natural
thermal
gas,
output for
propane,
industrial
diesel,
apps
multi-fuel

APPLICATION
Microturbines can be used for stand-by power, power quality and reliability, peak shaving, and
cogeneration applications. In addition, because microturbines are being developed to utilize a
variety of fuels, they are being used for resource recovery and landfill gas applications.
Microturbines are well suited for small commercial building establishments such as:
restaurants, hotels/motels, small offices, retail stores, and many others.
For example:
A McDonald's restaurant in Chicago, Illinois, gets most of its electricity from a natural-gaspowered microturbine, cutting $1,500 off its total monthly power bill.

2)internal combustion engines :

An internal combustion engine is any engine that operates by burning its fuel inside the engine.
In contrast a steam engine burns its fuel outside the engine. The most common internal
combustion engine type is gasoline powered. Others include those fueled by diesel, hydrogen,
methane, propane, etc. Engines typically can only run on one type of fuel and require
adaptations to adjust the air/fuel ratio or mix to use other fuels.
In a gasoline engine, a mixture of gasoline and air is sprayed into a cylinder. This is compressed
by a piston and at optimal point in the compression stroke, a spark plug creates an electrical
spark that ignites the fuel. The combustion of the fuel results in the generation of heat, and the
hot gases that are in the cylinder are then at a higher pressure than the fuel-air mixture and so
drive the piston back down. These combustion gases are vented and the fuel-air mixture
reintroduced to run a second stroke. The outward linear motion of the piston is ordinarily

Size
(kW)
25500

harnessed by a crankshaft to produce circular motion. Valves control the intake of air-fuel
mixture and allow exhaust gasses to exit at the appropriate times.

How internal consumbtion engines work

Technology

Benefits & usage

limitations

Fuel Choice

Internal
Combustion
Engines

Bulk power delivered

when utility is
unavailable
Fast startup allows
less sensitive
processes to be served
without need for UPSs
(emergency lighting,
HVAC, elevators, some
manufacturing
processes)
Very mature, stable
technology
Can be paralleled to
grid or other generators
with controls package
Can be very efficient
when combined with
heat recovery

Insurance policy
effect: Capital is
only being used
when back-up
generator is
running
Marginal cost of
production
generally favors
utility source in all
but rare occasions
Environmental
issuesemissions
and noise
Possible on-site
fuel storage needs

Diesel,
natural gas,
propane, biogas, other
petroleum
distillates

Efficiency is
28% to 37%

Size
(kW)
<16,000

Applications :
Internal combustion engines are most commonly used for mobile propulsion in vehicles and
portable machinery. In mobile equipment, internal combustion is advantageous since it can
provide high power-to-weight ratios together with excellent fuel energy density. Generally
using fossil fuel (mainly petroleum), these engines have appeared in transport in almost all
vehicles (automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, boats, and in a wide variety of aircraft and
locomotives).

3) Fuel cells :
A fuel cell operates like a battery, but does not run down. Instead of charging, it is an
electrochemical device that uses oxygen and a readily replenished fuel, such as hydrogen, to
produce electricity. Individual fuel cells are stacked in a module to produce the desired energy
output, much like commercial batteries use an array of individual cells. With heat and water as
the primary byproducts, fuel cells are virtually pollution-free and have more than two times the
efficiency of traditional combustion technologies, which typically have an efficiency rate of 33%
to 35%. As long as fuel is supplied to the fuel cell, energy in the form of heat and electricity will
be produced. Fuel cells can provide power for a range of applicationsfrom laptop computers
to utility power plants. A power converter can convert the direct current (DC) power produced
by the fuel cell into alternating current (AC) power that is compatible for use by the facility and
the utility. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy (EERE) Fuel Cell Technologies Program, when the heat from the fuel cell is
captured and used in combination with electrical power (such as combined heat and power),
fuel cells can have efficiency rates between 70% and 85% .

How fuel cell works

Technology
Fuel Cells
High temp:
Efficiency is
45% to 55%
Low temp:
Efficiency is
30% to 40%

Benefits & usage

Very high fuel
efficiencies from
hydrogen to electricity
Potential to operate
base load with utility
back-up
Possible residential
applicationa nomoving-parts energy
appliance
Very high efficiencies
when combined with
heat recovery
Green technology
water and heat are only
emissions from
hydrogen fuel, low
emissions .

limitations
Few commercially
available devices
Most research
efforts are for
automotive
applications
Need for fuel
reformer in almost all
applications (reduced
fuel to electrical
efficiencies)
Cold start is
1-2 days forMCFC,
3 hours for PAFC,
1 hour for PEMFC,
and 2 minutes for
SOFC

Applications :
Automotive: Fuel cell LDVs have so far seen limited
use but this is set to change as most major
automakers have targeted 2015 for initial
commercial sales of their fuel cell vehicles. Initial
locations for this rollout will most likely concentrate
around clusters of early hydrogen refuelling
infrastructure in Japan, Germany and the USA, and
will then spread outwards from these centres as the
market is established .
Submarines: The Type 212 submarines of the German
and Italian navies use fuel cells to remain submerged for
weeks without the need to surface.
The U212A is a non-nuclear submarine developed by
German naval shipyard Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft.
The system consists of nine PEM fuel cells, providing
between 30 kW and 50 kW each. The ship is silent giving
it an advantage in the detection of other submarines.

Fuil choice
Direct by
hydrogen;
natural gas,
propane,
methanol, or
other
hydrogenrich source
through
reformer

Size (kw)
MCFC (molten
carbonate fuel
cells): 2502,850
PAFC
(Phosphoric
acid fuel cells):
200
PEMFC
(proton
exchange
membrane fuel
cells): 3-250
SOFC (solid
oxide fuel
cells): 2252,240

4) photovoltaic systems :
Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems
take energy from the sun and
convert it to zero carbon solar
electricity. Installing a solar PV
system gives your home building its
own roof top power station so you
can make electricity from the sun.
The advantages of solar energy
include reducing your energy
consumption and carbon emissions
and saving money.

Technology

Benefits & usage

Photovoltaic No costs for fuel

No moving partsinexpensive
maintenance and long life
No emissions, no noise
Can be used for peak shaving
Highly reliable, mature
technology

limitations
Limited by available
area
High installed costs
Not suited for base load
Not suited for back-up
except when
accompanied by storage
Variable energy output

Fuil
choice
none

Size
(kw)
Big foot
print
(600
ft/kW)

Applications :
Today, solar-generated electricity serves people living in the most isolated spots on earth as well
as in the centre of our biggest cities. First used in the space program, photovoltaic (PV) systems
are now both generating electricity to pump water, light up the night, activate switches, charge
batteries, supply the electric utility grid, and more. Whether you are a homeowner, farmer,
planner, architect, or just someone who pays electric utility bills, PV may already touch your life
in some way.

5) wind turbines systems :

A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy from the
wind into electrical power. A wind turbine used for charging
batteries may be referred to as a wind charger
The result of over a millennium of windmill development and
modern engineering, today's wind turbines are manufactured in
a wide range of vertical and horizontal axis types. The smallest
turbines are used for applications such as battery charging for
auxiliary power for boats or caravans or to power traffic warning
signs. Slightly larger turbines can be used for making small
contributions to a domestic power supply whilst selling unused
power back to the utility supplier via the electrical grid. Arrays of
large turbines, known as wind farms, are becoming an
increasingly important source of renewable energy and are used
by many countries as part of a strategy to reduce their reliance
on fossil fuels.
Technology
Large Wind
Turbines

Benefits & usage

No variable costs
for fuel
In utility
implementation,
zero emissions may
allow green power
price premium
Mature technology
Multiple
manufacturers

limitations
Need to meet siting requirements
Generation is intermittent with
wind, and energy output can vary
with wind speed squared or cubed
over operation range. Not
appropriate as backup or off-grid
applications
Needs utility source for energy
purchases and sales
Can require footprint up to
100ft/kW

Fuil
Size
choice
(kw)
None
<1need
1,000
winds of
>12 mph
or
sometimes
higher

Applications :

If possible, only use 12v DC equipment (lights, CCTV cameras, fans, heaters, fridges or
kettles).
Do use the electric power generated by your wind turbine directly as much as possible.
Charging batteries is only 50% efficient.