On the role of external combustion engines for on-site power generation

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:6413864

Holtz, R. E.; Uherka, K. L.

Stationary external combustion engines are prime movers that have potential for becoming viable power generation machines in both the residential/commercial and industrial sectors. These large engines are being developed with the capability to employ alternative and/or non-scarce fuels. Energy sources under consideration include coal, coal derived liquids and gases, low-grade petroleum residues, biomass, and municipal wastes. Advantages of external combustion engines relative to conventional prime movers are: greater fuel efficiency, reduced environmental impacts (noise and emissions), and a high degree of fuel flexibility. External combustion engines include steam turbines, Stirling cycle engines, and externally-fired Brayton gas turbines. Among the various applications for external combustion engines are: total energy plants, ICES, industrial cogeneration, small municipal generating plants, and pumping stations. It is not necessary for all the heat supplied an external combustion engine to come from a single source. Various non-coal sources that can be used either independently or integrated with others to supply heat to external combustion engines include solar energy, municipal wastes, biomass, and geothermal. Stirling engine based systems are described. The development of the Stirling engine is briefly discussed. (MCW)

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6413864
• Report Number(s): CONF-790107-4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290800* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Heat Utilization-- (1980-)
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320304 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Waste Heat Recovery & Utilization
320603 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Municipalities & Community Systems-- Public Utilities-- (1980-)
BIOMASS
BRAYTON CYCLE POWER SYSTEMS
CO-GENERATION
COAL GAS
COAL LIQUIDS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COST
DESIGN
DEUS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EVALUATION
FLUIDS
GASES
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
HEAT ENGINES
ICES
MUNICIPAL WASTES
POWER GENERATION
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOLAR ENERGY
STEAM GENERATION
STEAM TURBINES
STIRLING CYCLE
STIRLING ENGINES
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
TOTAL ENERGY SYSTEMS
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
WASTES