Power generated by industrial waste heat
DEPRAG explains waste heat recovery using an ORC mini power generator
Surplus heat from industrial processes is by and large an untapped resource. This unused potential is just waiting to be discovered! A joint cooperation project between the University of Bayreuth, the East Bavarian Technical College Amberg-Weiden and the company DEPRAG SCHULZ GMBH u. CO. has developed a new and innovative ORC mini power generator – supported by the Bavarian Research Foundation. The project partners have succeeded in efficiently converting existing waste heat into electrical energy.
The basic idea: ”In many industrial activities process gas is lost into the atmosphere. The original plan was to find a way to utilise the potential of these gases”, explains DEPRAG Chief Operating Officer Dr.-Ing. Rolf Pfeiffer. The recovery of energy from process gases in not a new idea. ”What is new, however, is that with our development, using a small, compact, decentralised energy recovery system, even small amounts of residual energy in the power range of 3 to 120 kilowatts can be converted into power”. If the surplus energy potential is in the form of heat instead of pressure, it can only be utilised via a special closed circuit method – for example an ORC process (Organic Rankine Cycle). On this basis the three project partners developed an ORC test facility which has been installed and tested at the Centre for Energy Technologies at the University of Bayreuth.
In order to present their research findings, DEPRAG, together with the University of Bayreuth, organised a presentation for potential customers at the University of Bayreuth. At this event the participants had the unique opportunity of viewing the ORC system in action, getting to understand the processes and gaining further information about the integrated GET turbine generator.
The DEPRAG GET turbine generator
A compact unit consisting of a micro expansion turbine with electric generator generating power from gas. Without its electric control cabinet, the turbine generator is not much larger than a shoebox and can be installed in a decentralised position wherever gas is transferred from a higher to a lower pressure level. The pressure energy released by this shift is only utilised in the rarest situations and therefore valuable energy potential is being wasted.
The innovative GET turbine generator converts the energy contained in working fluid into power. Gas flows into the turbine, is ”compressed” by jets, accelerated and releases energy. The kinetic energy is converted into electric energy in the generator. In this innovative system, the turbine and electric generator constitute a compact unit – they share a common shaft. Consequently: When the turbine turns, the rotor of the generator also turns.
More information: DEPRAG SCHULZ GMBH u. CO.
