Metallic Power teams with Nextel
Metallic Power, a developer of zero-emission, regenerative zinc/air fuel cells, has signed a memo of understanding with Nextel Communications. The two will conduct tests to evaluate the use of Metallic Power’s fuel cells as a back-up power source for Nextel cellular base stations. The devices to be evaluated will offer 2.5 kW of back-up power in a rack-mounted configuration that includes a six kWh fuel tank to provide two to three hours of continuous back-up under full load. The cells use zinc pellets combined with oxygen to produce electricity and a byproduct of zinc-oxide that is then internally regenerated back into fresh zinc fuel that can be recycled indefinitely in this manner. The firms will conduct testing at Metallic Power’s Carlsbad, Calif. facilities.
Powerspan gets control results
Powerspan Corp. announced initial test results from the upgraded one MW pilot unit demonstrating its electro-catalytic oxidation (ECO) technology, a multi-pollutant control system for coal-fired plants. The pilot test unit, located at FirstEnergy Corp.’s R.E. Burger Plant near Shadyside, Ohio, reduced SO2 by 97 percent and NOx by 90 percent, based on typical inlet NOx conditions. The ECO pilot unit is jointly funded by Powerspan and FirstEnergy.
DOE adds more projects, develops hybrid
As part of its efforts to develop “breakthrough” approaches for reducing the threat of global climate change, the Department of Energy (DOE) has added three new projects to develop ways to capture carbon dioxide released from power plants and safely prevent it from entering the atmosphere. The projects will be carried out by the University of Texas, the University of Massachusetts and the University of Kentucky. DOE, Siemens Westinghouse Power Corp. and Southern California Edison jointly announced that the world’s first hybrid combination of a solid oxide fuel cell and a microturbine is now in full test operations. The mini power plant is being tested at the National Fuel Cell Research Center in Irvine, Calif.
CCPC to look at clean coal
The Canadian Clean Power Coalition (CCPC), a group of Canadian coal and coal-fired electricity producers, will research, develop, construct and operate a full-scale demonstration plant by 2007 to test the viability of new clean coal technology for retrofit onto an existing coal plant. The CCPC’s seven participating companies represent over 90 percent of Canada’s coal-fired electricity capacity: ATCO Power, EPCOR, Luscar, Nova Scotia Power, Ontario Power Generation, SaskPower and TransAlta.
Flyash joins the war effort
Flyash from Great River Energy’s Coal Creek Station near Underwood, N.D., is being used by U.S. Army combat engineers for quick repairs on airport runways and various concrete structures in Kandahar, Afghanistan, according to ISG Resources Inc., Great River Energy’s flyash marketing company. Coal Creek’s flyash is an ingredient in their new product, SwiftCrete, which is an all-purpose concrete and asphalt repair and anchor cement.
Siemens introduces racking system
Siemens Energy & Automation has introduced SARRACS safely remote breaker racking system that could save operator lives and avoid injury during breaker change out, according to the company. The SARRACS system is designed to allow operators to perform racking procedures from a distance of up to 40 feet away from the cell instead of in front of the cell and within a breaker’s flash boundary. A SARRACS unit eliminates the need for special personal protection equipment, which is current required by OSHA and NFPA regulations.
EPRI develops reduction process
A new NOx reduction process developed by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) provides coal-fired generating units with a cost-effective means of complying with NOx regulations, according to the Institute. The process, called Rich Reagent Injection (RRI), reduces NOx formation by injecting amine-based compounds into the fuel-rich region of the cyclone furnace. The combustion process is then completed with another EPRI development, cyclone overfire air. The first demonstration of RRI was completed at Conectiv’s B.L. England Unit 1, in Beesley’s Point, N.J.
IEEE begins standards
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standards Association (IEEE-SA) Standards Board has approved the start of work on three new fiber optic standards (IEEE P1591.2, IEEE P1591.3, IEEE P1594) for all dielectric, self-supporting and helically-applied cables used for communications in power grids. The new fiber optic cable standards will cover such items as mechanical and electrical performance, testing requirements, environmental considerations and acceptance criteria.
Transformer oil to be tested
TVA and the Nashville Electric Service will conduct a two-year test of electric transformers containing a new soybean-based oil, called BioTrans, that is environmentally friendly. NES, the second largest distributor of TVA power, has installed six electricity transformers to compare operations between traditional petroleum-based oil and the new soybean-based concept; three are filled with petroleum-based oil, and three are filled with BioTrans. Using a grant from the American Public Power Assn., Waverly Light and Power in Iowa developed and patented the bean oil technology. Funding by TVA’s Public Power Institute lead to further improvements.
Pall Corp. completes acquisition
Pall Corp. announced that it has completed the acquisition of Filterite, headquartered in Timonium, Md., and other divisions of the Filtration and Separations Group (FSG) from USFilter Corp., a subsidiary of Vivendi Environment. The other acquired divisions are Fluid Dynamics, also headquartered in the United States; SeitzSchenk and Schumacher, both headquartered in Germany; and Exekia, headquartered in France. The addition of approximately $270 million in sales from FSG is the largest acquisition to date for Pall Corp., bringing the company to more than $1.5 billion in sales.
New technology could boost geothermal plant production
Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced the selection of two firms under a cooperative agreement to develop and demonstrate an enhanced geothermal system in California. DOE will provide $4.5 million over the next five years to support the $12 million effort by the University of Utah’s Energy and Geoscience Institute and Caithness Energy LLC to increase energy production in the Coso geothermal field., located about 25 miles north of Ridgecrest, Calif. The University and Caithness will pump water under high pressure into a portion of the Coso field to fracture subsurface rocks and create channels for hot water to move from the geothermal reservoir to existing geothermal wells. (The process, called “hydrofracing,” is commonly used in oil and gas production.)
American Superconductor begins production test run
American Superconductor Corp. announced it has released high temperature superconductor (HTS) wires for initial production at its new manufacturing facility in Devens, Mass. The HTS wires will be fully processed under actual production conditions to provide verification of the manufacturing process. The company says it’s on track for commercial production by the end of this year.
Avista, Aperion announce fuel cell agreement
Avista Labs and Aperion Energy Systems announced a joint agreement to develop and market small-scale back-up power solutions using Avista Labs’ modular cartridge technology proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Aperion will integrate Avista Labs’ fuel cell systems with other components, including hydrogen fuel solutions, and will eventually include Aperion’s power electronics. Joint marketing efforts will be aimed at commercial applications in telecommunications and utility target markets.
