NYPA to Begin Testing Clean-Power Micro-Turbine Generator.Business Editors WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2000 The New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Power Authority (NYPA) will soon open the door to another clean-energy option when it begins testing an low emission, high-efficiency microturbine generator generator, in electricity, machine used to change mechanical energy into electrical energy. It operates on the principle of electromagnetic induction, discovered (1831) by Michael Faraday. now being installed at its corporate headquarters building in White Plains. Microturbines are small turbo-generators, fueled by natural gas and capable of an electrical output ranging from 30 kilowatts (kw) to 200 kw. The unit NYPA will test--no larger than a residential refrigerator--is capable of producing 30 kw, roughly enough electricity to power 10 average-sized homes. NYPA will share the testing data with numerous other utilities and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI EPRI Electric Power Research Institute EPRI European Parliaments Research Initiatives ). Testing is expected to begin in June and continue for at least six months. "The Power Authority is working to promote clean energy sources as part of Governor Pataki's efforts to enhance the environment of the Empire State," said C.D. "Rapp" Rappleyea, Power Authority chairman and chief executive officer. "Microturbines are the latest entry in the clean energy market. They add another clean-power source to the Power Authority's array of fuel cells, photovoltaics and other environmentally sensitive energy options." The significant power generation from these relatively small units is achieved through operating the turbine turbine, rotary engine that uses a continuous stream of fluid (gas or liquid) to turn a shaft that can drive machinery. A water, or hydraulic, turbine is used to drive electric generators in hydroelectric power stations. shaft shaft (shaft) a long slender part, such as the diaphysis of a long bone. shaft n. 1. An elongated rodlike structure, such as the midsection of a long bone. 2. at a high speed, generally about 100,000 revolutions per minute. The shaft then drives a high-speed generator. High efficiencies of 25 to 30 percent are reached by reusing normally wasted heat energy. In some designs the units are air-cooled, eliminating the need for water cooling Water cooling is a method of heat removal from components. As opposed to air cooling, water is used as the heat transmitter. Water cooling is commonly used for cooling internal combustion engines in automobiles and electrical generators. or oil lubrication lubrication, introduction of a substance between the contact surfaces of moving parts to reduce friction and to dissipate heat. A lubricant may be oil, grease, graphite, or any substance—gas, liquid, semisolid, or solid—that permits free action of . Capstone Turbine Capstone Turbine Corporation NASDAQ: CPST, incorporated in 1988, is a California based gas turbine manufacturer that specializes in microturbine power and heat cogeneration systems. Capstone has sold and shipped more than 3,000 of these one-moving-part systems worldwide. Corp. of Woodland Hills, Calif., manufactured the unit being installed at NYPA's headquarters. Later this year the Power Authority plans to install and test a 75-kw micro-turbine. "We need to gain first-hand experience with both the 30 kw and 75 kw units, which meet the varied load requirements of our customers," said Robert L. Tscherne, NYPA's senior vice president for energy services and technology. Microturbines can be deployed on a modular basis to meet a variety of the energy needs. Several NYPA customers in the New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. metropolitan area have expressed an interest in micro-turbine technology for their facilities. The Power Authority is among the nation's leaders in deployed clean-energy technologies, with 577 kw of solar power arrays in service at locations throughout New York State, and two 200-kw fuel cells installed in the New York City area and a third nearing completion. With significant portions of its electricity generated by emission-free hydroelectric projects on the Niagara and St. Lawrence rivers, the Power Authority has been ranked among the nation's cleanest electric utilities. NYPA supplies about a quarter of the state's electrical needs and supplies all the power for the subways, commuter trains, hospitals and public facilities for its customers in New York City and Westchester County. |
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