• Peak shaving and base load power (grid parallel).
• Combined heat and power.
• Stand-alone power.
• Backup/standby power.
• Ride-through connection.
• Primary power with grid as backup.
• Resource recovery.
Target customers include financial services, data processing, telecommunications, restaurants, hotels and lodging, retail and office buildings, and other commercial sectors. Micro turbines are currently used in resource recovery operations at oil
and gas production fields, wellheads, coal mines, and landfill operations, where
by-product gases in essence provide free fuel. Unattended operation is important,
since these locations may be remote from the grid and, even when served by the grid,
may experience costly downtime when electric service is lost due to weather, fire, or
interference from animals.
In CHP applications, the waste heat from micro turbines is used to produce hot
water, to heat building space, to drive absorption cooling or desiccant dehumidification equipment, and to supply other thermal energy needs in a building or
industrial process.
5.3.4 Reciprocating Engine
Also known as internal combustion engines, reciprocating engines are a widespread
and familiar technology. A variety of stationary engine products are available for a
range of power generation applications and duty cycles, including standby and
emergency power, peaking service, intermediate and base load power, and CHP.
Reciprocating engines are available for power generation in sizes ranging from a few
kilowatts to over 5 MW.
There are two basic types of reciprocating engine: spark ignition (SI) and compression ignition (CI). Spark ignition engines used for power generation prefer
natural gas as fuel, although can be run on propane, gasoline, or landfill gas.
Compression ignition engines (often called diesel engines) operate on diesel fuel
or heavy oil or can be set up to run in a dual-fuel configuration that burns primarily
natural gas with a small amount of diesel pilot fuel.
Diesel engines have historically been the most popular type of reciprocating
engine for both small and large power generation applications. However, in the
United States and other industrialized nations, diesel engines are increasingly
restricted to emergency standby or limited duty-cycle service because of atmospheric emission concerns. As a result, the natural gas-fueled SI engine is now a
popular choice for the higher duty-cycle stationary power market.
The current generation of natural gas engines offers low capital costs, fast startup, proven reliability when properly maintained, excellent load-following
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• Combined heat and power.
• Stand-alone power.
• Backup/standby power.
• Ride-through connection.
• Primary power with grid as backup.
• Resource recovery.
Target customers include financial services, data processing, telecommunications, restaurants, hotels and lodging, retail and office buildings, and other commercial sectors. Micro turbines are currently used in resource recovery operations at oil
and gas production fields, wellheads, coal mines, and landfill operations, where
by-product gases in essence provide free fuel. Unattended operation is important,
since these locations may be remote from the grid and, even when served by the grid,
may experience costly downtime when electric service is lost due to weather, fire, or
interference from animals.
In CHP applications, the waste heat from micro turbines is used to produce hot
water, to heat building space, to drive absorption cooling or desiccant dehumidification equipment, and to supply other thermal energy needs in a building or
industrial process.
5.3.4 Reciprocating Engine
Also known as internal combustion engines, reciprocating engines are a widespread
and familiar technology. A variety of stationary engine products are available for a
range of power generation applications and duty cycles, including standby and
emergency power, peaking service, intermediate and base load power, and CHP.
Reciprocating engines are available for power generation in sizes ranging from a few
kilowatts to over 5 MW.
There are two basic types of reciprocating engine: spark ignition (SI) and compression ignition (CI). Spark ignition engines used for power generation prefer
natural gas as fuel, although can be run on propane, gasoline, or landfill gas.
Compression ignition engines (often called diesel engines) operate on diesel fuel
or heavy oil or can be set up to run in a dual-fuel configuration that burns primarily
natural gas with a small amount of diesel pilot fuel.
Diesel engines have historically been the most popular type of reciprocating
engine for both small and large power generation applications. However, in the
United States and other industrialized nations, diesel engines are increasingly
restricted to emergency standby or limited duty-cycle service because of atmospheric emission concerns. As a result, the natural gas-fueled SI engine is now a
popular choice for the higher duty-cycle stationary power market.
The current generation of natural gas engines offers low capital costs, fast startup, proven reliability when properly maintained, excellent load-following
5 Realizing a Local Low-Carbon Society Through Urban-Rural Linkage
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