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ea technology

DCHP Field TrialsPractical Experiences with the WhisperGen

Project Manager : Rob Green

Presented by Yvonne Dickson

2/27

Overview

• Introduction to the WhisperGen• History of EA Technology’s involvement• WhisperGen & the Stirling Cycle• Field trials• Performance

– Does it save money?

– Does it reduce CO2 emissions?

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• Floor-mounted boiler replacement

• External combustion• Stirling cycle

What is the WhisperGen

4/27

WhisperGen in the home

WhisperGen

microCHPunit

GRID ELECTRICITYIMPORT / EXPORT

GAS100%

EXHAUST10%

GENERATION10 %

HEAT80 %

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Project History• 1999 - studies of commercial viability

• 2000 - lab demo of Mk I WhisperGen

• 2001 - Mk I • 3 trial houses + test house + lab endurance

• 2002 - alpha trial Mk II • 13 houses + lab endurance (4)

• 2003 - beta trial Mk III• 15 Chester + 13 Ipswich + lab (Mk II & III)

• 2003 / 4 - Mk IV• pre-launch checks - 3 Chester houses

6/27

Powergen market launch 2004• EA Technology training of installers• Monitoring for Carbon Trust & DTI

Project History (2)

7/27

Piston

Regenerator

Gas Flame

Cooling Circuit

The Stirling Cycle

Piston

Gas

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The Stirling Cycle

9/27

compression at constant temperature

The Stirling Cycle

10/27

displacement / regeneration at constant volume

The Stirling Cycle

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expansion at constant temperature

The Stirling Cycle

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displacement / regeneration at constant volume

The Stirling Cycle

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WhisperGen & the Stirling Cycle

Return

Flow

Generator

Wobble Yoke

Air

GasHOT END

COLD END

Exhaust Cooler

4 CylinderNitrogen FilledStirling Engine

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WhisperGen

• Mk IV current– 0.85 kWe / 6 kW t

– 1.2 kWe / 8 kW t

• Mk V soon– ~ 1 kWe / 7 kW t

to ~ 1 kWe / 15 kW t

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The need for field trials

Prototype:– Ease of installation– Reliability– Operational experience– Control systems– User acceptability– Performance / Economics– Improvements

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The need for field trials (2)

Market ready:• Carbon Trust

– CO2 emissions

– Product accreditation

• DTI / electricity suppliers– Electricity metering / settlement

17/27

EA Technology Field Trials

18/27

What to measure?

• Electricity kWh– Generation– House in and out

• Heat output• Gas input• Temperatures?

19/27

Findings

• Range of house types & occupancy patterns– Both affect run hours– Occupant behaviour – big variable

• Sales + Accreditation?

• User acceptability– Noise– Speed of response

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Electricity

-1

-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00 00:00

time

kW (

aver

age

ove

r 15

min

)

14/02/02

House use

House Import

House Export

WG Export

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Electricity

-1

-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00 00:00

time

kW

(a

ve

rag

e o

ve

r 1

5 m

in)

17/04/02

House use

House Import

House Export

WG Export

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Electricity

-1

-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00 00:00

time

kW

(a

ve

rag

e o

ve

r 1

5 m

in)

09/03/02

House use

House Import

House Export

WG Export

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Economics – does it save money?

• Well matched (application & engine)– £150 to £200 / year (~ €250 / year)

• Need long run hours– Occupancy pattern– House heat loss (need large houses)

• Mk V

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Government targets CO2

- Global warming / Kyoto- dCHP high priority

• dCHP in context of house- 60 WhisperGen sites to be monitored

- 40 Powergen

- 20 Northern Ireland

Carbon Trust Monitoring Trial

25/27

Carbon Trust Method

Pulses (Gas, electric, heat)

Temperatures Logger / receiver

Telemetry systemGSM

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Does it save CO2?

• Comparing against?– Boiler (B rated 86%+, A rated ~93%)– Central power station

• If dCHP overall efficiency >= boiler efficiency

– Obviously reduces CO2 emissions

• If dCHP overall efficiency < boiler efficiency– Not so clear cut

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Conclusions• WhisperGen is commercially available

– Stirling Cycle, External Combustion

• Field trials are essential to prove:– Customer acceptability, reliability, use patterns

export (utilisation) etc. etc.

• Occupant behaviour has a big effect• Mk V should expand market for WhisperGen

• Saves CO2?

rob.green@eatechnology.com