March 2006 - Plumbing & HVAC

Environmental SolutionsProduct ProfileResidential co-generationUnit designed to supply heat, electricity to small homesBy Ron ShukerHomeowners who struggledthrough the northeastern blackoutin August 2003 and the icestorm that hit Ontario, Quebec andNew Brunswick in 1998 may soon havea unique on-site heating and electricitygeneration option – if the natural gasnetwork continues to operate.Climate Energy, LLC, has developed asmall combined heat and power cogenerationunit (CHP) specifically forthe single family home. A similar systemhas been marketed in Japan since March2003, with unitsin more than15,000 smallhomes there,reported KarlMayer, marketingdirector forClimate Energy,the North Americansystemsintegrationpartner withHonda.This micro-CHP system uses a natural gas fuelledHonda MCHP engine-generator unitthat will generate 3.2 kW of thermaloutput or about 11,000 Btu/h. The systemwould operate continuouslythroughout the winter months to satisfya home’s base heating load, Mayertold P&HVAC.The system also generates 1 kWhr ofelectricity as a byproduct (4,500 kWhrper year) when it is operating, reducingA similar system hasbeen marketed in Japansince March 2003,with units in more thanthe need for power from the grid, hecommented. The base demand for theaverage home is about 8,000 kW hoursa year. The complete micro-CHP system,with a boiler or furnace to providethe peak heating demand, will costabout $10,000, Mayer said.This unit features Honda’s GE160Vengine with a three-way catalyst-andoxygenfeedback control to reduce NOxemissions. The unit reduces both furnaceor boiler and power plant carbondioxide emissions up to 30 percentwhile runningat 85 percentefficiency. Thereis a small electricalgenerationsystemthat utilizesHonda’s sinewave inverter.Mayer saidoperationalcontrol anddiagnostic reportingwithpassword-protected access via theInternet will be standard. Futureoptions being developed are a solarphoto-voltaic panel for generating electricitythrough the summer months andan automatic backup in the event ofpower failures, a must-have for manypeople for health, security and lifestylereasons.Climate Energy, the system integrator,will develop and market the system,15,000 small homes there.This residential co-generation system is currently undergoing field tests.utilizing the Honda MCHP engine-generatorunit, and integrate it with itsboiler or furnace. The cogenerationheat exchanger module and control systemwill be housed in the heating unit.The system will only be sold throughauthorized Climate Energy dealers.There were 30 pilot in-home U.S.field test installations planned for lastfall, with full production by the fall of2006. Climate Energy is a joint ventureof ECR International, Utica, N.Y. andYankee Scientific, Medfield, Mass.The unit is currently undergoing ULcertification tests for the U.S. However,some Canadian utilities and customershave discussed the system’s availabilitywith Climate Energy, Mayer reported.With Canada committed to the KyotoProtocol, reducing CO 2 emissions withthis unit, using incentives to customers,could be an option for thesecompanies.Climate Energy/ECR Int’l. Circle no. 393Circle Number 146 for More InfoCircle Number 147 for More Informationwww.plumbingandhvac.ca February/March 2006 – Plumbing & HVAC Product News 45