Demonstration and Verification of a Turbine Power Generation System Utilizing Renewable Fuel: Landfill Gas

Abstract : The objective of this demonstration is to provide a credible, independent, third party evaluation of the performance, economics and environmental impacts of the Ener-Core Powerstation (FP250) technology in a landfill gas (LFG) energy recovery application at a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) site. Ener-Core Power, Inc. was formerly known as Flex Power Generation, Inc. The evaluation was designed to provide sufficient data to allow end-users, purchasers, and others to determine the feasibility of the technology at DoD sites and other applications. Success factors that were validated during this demonstration include energy production, emissions, and emission reductions compared to alternative systems, economics, and operability, including reliability and availability. The FP250 is a unique power plant that is able to generate electric power using low energy content gas or vapor while emitting low levels of atmospheric pollutants. The FP250 integrates a modified conventional micro-turbine (Ingersoll Rand MT250, now manufactured by FlexEnergy Energy Systems) of proven design with a proprietary gradual thermal oxidizer in place of the conventional turbine s combustor. Gradual oxidation is the 1- to 2-second conversion of a dilute fuel air mixture to heat energy, carbon dioxide (CO2) and water. Compared to traditional combustion processes, which occur in milliseconds, the Ener-Core oxidation process is more gradual. The FP250 is able to operate using low heating value fuel sources (theoretically as low as 15 British thermal units [BTU]/standard cubic feet [scf]) that would not support operation of conventional gas turbines or reciprocating engines, which require a minimum fuel heating value of 300-500 BTU/scf.