E-quad Power Systems GmbH will be at the E-world in Essen for the 9th time and will once again have an exhibit on display this year, giving visitors the opportunity to get a close-up look at a microturbine and the unique technology behind it. The biggest difference to the conventional CHP plants is the air-bearing, lubricant and coolant free shaft on which all mechanically stressed components are mounted.
This shaft rotates at a nominal speed of 60,000 to 96,000 revolutions per minute.
In comparison: common reciprocating engines rotate at 7.000 - 8.000 revolutions per minute. Because of the lubricant and coolant free air-bearing system there is a very low maintenance effort of just five hours per year as well as a service life of 80,000 operating hours with general renewing after 48,000 operating hours. This is the reason why the operating costs are low and the efficiency increases. The electronic gearbox, which was developed by the turbocharger technology in the aviation industry, allows the microturbine to run nearly 100% modulated in its power output. Due to the speed-based control, the microturbine also has very good efficiency in the partial load behavior. In the power range between 100% and 50%, it drops by a maxi-mum of 4%, whereby the overall efficiency is maintained/ in-creases due to the increasing thermal efficiency. Even without a catalyst or other gas purification systems, the exhaust gas values are extremely low (NOx < 18mg / m³, CO < 50mg / m³).
The Capstone microturbine is useful for many applications. In ad-dition to the production of hot water, refrigeration or freezing and the connection to a steam generator or burner, the exhaust gases of the turbine can also be used for direct drying. Integration into the existing energy manage-ment systems is uncomplicated.
Typical applications for microturbines are local heating networks, hospitals, retirement homes, swimming halls, industrial facilities/production plants, etc.
The following performance ratings are available: 50kW – 1MW electrical power // 114KW – 1.4MW thermal power (Return:80°C/Inlet:60°C). The microturbines are operated with natural gas, LPG, biogas or natural gas/hydrogen blends. In early 2023, Capstone is going to launch the 100% Hydrogen-microturbine C65 for the German market.
Practical example – Deppe Backstein-Keramik GmbH
The family-owned company of Deppe Backstein-Keramik GmbH produces bricks and facing bricks at their plant in Uelsen, northern Germany, since 1888. In 2021, initiated by Ingenieurbüro Obermeyer to gain more energy efficiency in the brick drying pro-cess and to generate electricity to serve the com-pany’s baseload, two natural-gas fired Capstone C65 where installed. The two turbines with 100 kW electrical power are releasing their 300°C exhaust gas directly into the drying chambers. Concerning Future fuels: A Conversion of the existing turbine plant up to 100% hydrogen is possible at manageable cost if the fuel is available at economically relevant expenses.
E-quad Power Systems GmbH
Nordstern-Park 17a
52134 Herzogenrath
Phone: 02406-30369-10
Fax: 02406-30369-39
Web: www.microturbine.de