Industry
News
University Plant Converts
to Cogen
The main campus of Colorado State
University in Fort Collins has added a new
800 k W steam turbine generator in its
central heating plant, converting the facility
to a combined heat and power plant.
Project construction costs were $885,000.
The new system generates electricity that
would otherwise come from the regional
electric grid and reduces campus utility
expenses by using energy that would be
wasted. With CHP, the university estimates
it will save more than 5. 6 million k Wh of
electricity, or $260,000 per year, translating to a 30 percent annual return on its
investment. Over 20 years, Colorado State
expects to save a total of $7 million in utility
expenses. The new system also will lower
carbon dioxide emissions by more than
2,600 tons annually.
New Products From
Spirax Sarco
Spirax Sarco Inc. has introduced two
new product lines: universal steam trap
strainer connectors with an upgraded
BDV3 blowdown valve and the BDHR
series of packaged boiler blowdown heat
recovery systems.
When used with standardized univer-sal-type steam traps, the new swivel-type
connectors constitute a complete, compact
trap station with NPT, socket weld or 1/2-
inch, 3/4-inch and 1-inch flanged connections. Rated to 600 psig at 750 degrees F,
Universal steam trap strainer connector
the trap station is compatible with the
company’s universal thermodynamic, balanced pressure, inverted bucket, float and
thermostatic and bimetallic steam traps.
The universal design enables the trap and
its components to be removed and replaced
without disturbing the piping. The blowdown
valves are replaceable as a complete unit.
Spirax Sarco’s new pre-engineered
boiler blowdown heat-recovery systems
recover up to 95 percent of the heat energy
normally lost with conventional continuous blowdown separators. The resulting
condensate can be used to preheat boiler
makeup water. Resulting flash steam can
be used to heat the deaerator tank or for
other fuel-saving uses. The modules are
available with eight sizes of centrifugal
blowdown vessels ranging from 8 to 26
inches, with capacities from 100 lb/hr to
100,000 lb/hr. BDHR packages include a
plate heat exchanger or optional shell-and-tube heat exchanger, pressure-relief
valve, isolation valve and mechanical or
electrical level controls.
More information on these products
is available at www.spiraxsarco.com/us.
London System Starts Up
London’s new Whitehall District Heating
System started up last October, providing
heat to 18 United Kingdom government
departments as well as electricity for use
across Whitehall, the seat of many government ministries. Based in the newly refurbished Ministry of Defence building, the
system produces electricity from a single
gas turbine power plant and utilizes normally wasted heat to warm the Whitehall
buildings. The energy-efficient plant will
save taxpayers a projected £140,000 (more
than $245,000) per year in net running
costs and reduce carbon emissions by
2,600 tonnes. Its use will be a key component in helping the government reach its
self-imposed target of 15 percent electricity
consumption to come from good-quality
combined heat and power by 2010.
UNC Power Plant Gets
Green Light
The University of North Carolina (UNC)
at Chapel Hill has received approval from
the Chapel Hill Town Council to upgrade
power generation capabilities at its cogeneration plant. At a Nov. 21, 2005, council
meeting, UNC’s application for a special
use permit modification for the plant was
approved under a resolution that requires
the university to follow specific conditions,
including operation that promotes public
health and general welfare. Another stipulation to the approval was requiring UNC
to participate in the town’s carbon reduction program.
UNC’s cogeneration facility provides
the Chapel Hill campus with electricity and
steam. Plans call for the university to construct a new steam-powered turbine generator, replace cooling towers and build
five new buildings to house equipment
and other items.
USDA Awards $12.6 Million
for Biomass R&D
The U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) announced that 11 biomass
research, development and demonstration
projects were selected to receive $12.6
million for the Biomass Research and
Development Initiative, a joint effort of
USDA and the Department of Energy (DOE).
The total value of the projects is nearly
$19 million, including cost-sharing of the
private-sector partners.
The Biomass Research and Development
Act of 2000 and the 2002 Farm Bill set the
framework for interagency cooperation and
joint solicitations. USDA’s Natural Resources
Conservation Service and DOE’s Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
coordinated efforts to issue a joint solicitation that is awarding these funds.
Fund recipients include the University
of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho; Samuel Roberts
Noble Foundation Inc., Ardmore, Okla.;
Tampa Bay Area Ethanol Consortium, Florida.;
University of Montana, College of Technology,
Missoula, Mont.; North Carolina State
University, Department of Chemical and
