R&D CapabilitiesTecogen’s R&D tradition and ongoing research have allowed it to cultivate deep engineering expertise and maintain continuity over several decades. We have sustained a strong core technical knowledge that is critical to ongoing product support and enhancements. Tecogen’s extensive R&D capabilities date back to the company’s inception in the early 1960’s as the R&D/New Business center of Thermo Electron Corporation. In those early days, the company performed more fundamental and applied research, but it has since evolved to focus more on targeted product development. Our TecoDrive engine, cogeneration and chiller products, and most recently the inverter-based InVerde “premium power” module, were all created and optimized with the support of both public and private funding sources. Tecogen continues to move its technology forward. Current areas of research include:EmissionsSince 2008, We have been conducting laboratory experimentation on our engines to develop Ultra Clean Emission Control Technology for achieving robust compliance with the stringent CARB 2007 emissions standard. Funding support of $530,000 was provided by the California Energy Commission, with co-funding by Sempra Energy, and administration by DE Solutions of San Diego, CA. Read our press release “Tecogen Receives $530,000 Research Grant for Development of Ultra Clean Emission Control Technology”. While Tecogen systems meet current permitting levels in California, keeping ahead of the technology requirement is critical to maintaining our market position, not just in California, but on the East Coast and Europe as well. Research is being done on various catalyst formulations, wide-band oxygen sensors, software algorithms, and enhanced ignition components. In 2010, we made significant progress in meeting these CARB 2007 targets and currently have a field test demonstration operating in Southern California for proof of concept in the actual CHP environment, over a sustained period of time. We will also be demonstrating our new ultra-clean emissions technology on three InVerde 100 kW CHP units for a research project with SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District). This project, also sponsored by the CEC, is the commercial application of the world’s first Microgrid-enabled product to be introduced in the U.S. DG market, thereby providing an excellent high-visibility stage to demonstrate this innovative emissions technology. Read our press release “Tecogen Supplies Three Ultra-Clean CHP Modules to Sacramento Electric Utility for Microgrid Demonstration Project”. Advanced CHP EngineIn 2009, Tecogen was awarded $1 million in research and development funds from the California Energy Commission (CEC) to apply the recent advances made in small-size automotive engine technology, specifically with hybrid vehicles, to the stationary natural gas CHP market. We are partnering with AVL California Technology Center to take a technically advanced automotive engine platform and adapt it for the CHP application. The engine’s features include:
The program objective requires first converting the fuel system to natural gas and then optimizing efficiency over the CHP duty cycle, which considerably contrasts that of a vehicle. AVL will perform analytical modeling, as well as dynamometer testing for mapping the engine’s performance and calibrating the various control parameters. Tecogen will then implement an endurance test for 5000 hours in our laboratory. This next-generation engine is expected to expand Tecogen’s technology into smaller Distributed Generation (DG) products. See our press release “Tecogen Awarded $1 Million from California Energy Commission to Develop Next Generation Combined Heat and Power Engine”. Ultra High-Efficiency Heating ApplianceTecogen R&D embarked upon the development of a new product, a gas-fired ultra high-efficiency heating appliance, through our majority owned subsidiary, Ilios Inc. This module utilizes a heat pump Carnot cycle to produce hot water and supplement this energy with waste heat from the engine, resulting in an efficiency that surpasses a conventional gas-fired water heater by more than two times. How does it work?A heat pump takes the naturally occurring energy from the environment (low temperature) and with mechanical work, pumps this heat to higher temperature using a standard vapor compression refrigeration cycle. This mechanical work can be provided by an electric motor. However, in our case, the work is provided by a natural gas-fired engine. In addition, the refrigeration cycle’s heat is supplemented with the engine’s waste heat, for added efficiency.
A measure of efficiency is the Coefficient of Performance (COP), which is defined as the useful energy “out” (hot water), divided by the useful energy “in” (fuel). By comparing the COP of the Ilios heater to COP’s for typical electric-motor driven heat pump technology and conventional gas-fired boilers, the benefit is clearly apparent. These fuel savings not only provide an economic benefit, but also reduce the carbon footprint from that of conventional systems by nearly half.
* Based on natural gas fuel at the power plant source The several modules have been built and tested and the first unit has been running in the field for several months. To learn more about the ILIOS High Efficiency Water Heater, please visit the ILIOS website at www.iliosdynamics.com. |
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