Title: RP-5 Renewable Energy Efficiency Project

Abstract

This is the final technical report for the RP-5 Renewable Energy Efficiency Project (REEP). The report summarizes, in a comprehensive manner, all the work performed during the award period extending between July 12, 2002 and June 30, 2007. This report has been prepared in accordance with the Department of Energy (DOE) Guidelines and summarizes all of the activities that occurred during the award period. The RP-5 Renewable Energy Efficiency Project, under development by the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA), is comprised of a series of full-scale demonstration projects that will showcase innovative combinations of primary and secondary generation systems using methane gas derived from local processing of biosolids, dairy manure and other organic material. The goal of the project is to create renewable energy-based generation systems with energy efficiencies 65% or more. The project was constructed at the 15 MGD Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 5 located in the City of Chino in California where the Agency has constructed its new energy-efficient (platinum-LEED rating) headquarters building. Technologies that were featured in the project include internal combustion engines (ICE), absorption chillers, treatment plant secondary effluent cooling systems, heat recovery systems, thermal energy storage (TES), Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) secondary power generationmore » system, the integration of a future fuel cell system, gas cleaning requirements, and other state-of-the-art design combinations. The RP-5 REEP biogas source is coming from three manure digesters which are located within the RP-5 Complex and are joined with the RP-5 REEP through gas conveyance pipelines. Food waste is being injected into the manure digesters for digester gas production enhancement. The RP-5 REEP clearly demonstrates the biogas production and power generation viability, specifically when dealing with renewable and variable heating value (Btu) fuel. The RP-5 REEP was challenged with meeting stringent utility, gas, power, and air quality rules and regulations. Coordination with the Southern California Gas Company (SCGC), Southern California Edison (SCE), and South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) was continuous and extensive. The interconnecting agreement and the permit to construct and operate were major obstacles despite the early start and coordination with the utility companies and regulatory agencies. The RP-5 REEP is part of a unique RP-5 Complex approach where several facilities are tied and connected with each other; where energy and gas can be transferred from one facility to another (see attached RP-5 Complex Ultimate Energy Balance Diagram). The REEP also incorporated new technologies, such as TES and ORC, along with using heat recovery for the platinum-LEED headquarter buildings heating and cooling via efficient absorption chillers. Through the conceptual design phase, numerous innovative technologies were researched and evaluated, with the most proven and efficient selected to be part of the RP-5 REEP.« less

Authors:

Clifton, Neil; Wall, Dave; Zughbi, Jamal

Publication Date:

Sat Jun 30 00:00:00 EDT 2007

Research Org.:

Inland Empire Utilities Agency

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

923434

DOE Contract Number:  

FC26-02NT41475

Resource Type:

Technical Report

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

03 NATURAL GAS; 09 BIOMASS FUELS; 30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION; 33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS; ABSORPTION; AIR QUALITY; COOLING SYSTEMS; ENERGY BALANCE; ENERGY EFFICIENCY; ENERGY STORAGE; FUEL CELLS; HEAT RECOVERY; HEATING; INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; MANAGEMENT; MANURES; METHANE; PIPELINES; POWER GENERATION; RANKINE CYCLE; REGULATIONS; VIABILITY; WASTES