Fwd: Induction Generators [RE-wrenches]

[Travis Creswell, Ozark Solar]

Richard,

I'll tell you all I know about induction generators and you can forward it
to Neil if you think it's worth anything.  I'm pretty sure you won't be
forwarding it.

I haven't heard about induction generator's for while.  Of course their
field is induced by the grid and can only be used in parallel with the grid.
 If you want to use one off grid you can use a small generator (in theory)
to induce the field and since most are three phase you have to add a rotary
phase converter and then it really gets fun to make it all work and keep it
going.  We gave up trying on one that I bought for back up power not
realizing what I had bought.  I learned something about these when I got one
heck of deal on a 80 kW dual fuel unit for backup power that never would
output any usable energy.  It's kind of funny now but wasn't at the time. 
Do your homework kid's!  Thank goodness the big cat 6 diesel engine was
worth more than the what I paid for the whole thing.  There is still a few
around that were installed at factories during the energy crunch of the 
70's.  The thought was to run them in parallel and produce most of your
factories own power and then take the cheaper interruptible rate and sell
back when the grid needed your power.  We still have two 150 kW (or are they
250 kW each) kW co gen units that we look after but they were decommissioned
over 5 years ago.  Any takers?  I'd let them go for a low 6 figure.  Heck
I'd even toss in the boiler and condensor for that.  We have been trying to
sell them ever since as they don't touch the 2.5 mW load of the customer who
owns them.  We have even looked at running them off landfill gas but gave up
on that as it wasn't cheaper than the utility even with the free diaper gas.

Anyway, the actual question was how efficient are they and does anyone make
them in the under 10kW range.  Their efficiency is determined by the engine
and fuel source but since we are talking about IC engines I would say less
than 30% would be accurate.  I don't know of anyone who makes them but any
of the major generator manufacturers probably still have designs for big
ones from the late 70's.

Maybe this guy needs a flywheel or a fuel cell.

Travis Creswell


----------
>From: "Richard Perez, Home Power magazine" <richard.perez at homepower.com>
>To: RE Wrenches <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
>Subject: Fwd: Induction Generators [RE-wrenches]
>Date: Fri, Nov 3, 2000, 6:44 PM
>

>Hello Wrenches
>
>I know zip about utility connecting induction generators. Can anyone 
>please help this fellow out?
>
>Please respond directly to Neil at <herdmaster at elkinternational.com>, 
>and Cc: me so I can get educated also.
>
>Thanks
>
>Richard
>
>>X-MindSpring-Loop: hp at homepower.com
>>Date: Fri, 03 Nov 2000 18:54:39 -0500
>>From: Herdmaster <herdmaster at elkinternational.com>
>>X-Accept-Language: en
>>To: hp at homepower.com
>>Subject: Induction Generators
>>
>>Dear Homepower,
>>
>>Do you know of any companies which manufacture small induction
>>generators for grid interconnect (1 - 10 kw). If not do you have a
>>contact who could provide me information on high eff. motor conversion.
>>I am trying to determine what kind of efficiencies I can expect? I need
>>a system which is high eff.
>>
>>Thanks, Neil Vandendool
>

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