Maine firm thinks it has solution to New England’s energy woes

Bangor Daily News ^ | 9-4-15 | Darren Fishell

[smokingfrog]

It just so happens that climate-changing carbon dioxide, worked up to a semi-liquid state, could play a part in reducing emissions of its gaseous counterpart and helping to solve New England’s energy challenges.

And it could create a range of new jobs in Maine, too.

David Stapp, president of the Wiscasset-based Peregrine Turbine Technologies, said the properties of carbon dioxide in a “supercritical” state — and its suitability for propelling a turbine — aren’t new.

But the circular system his company is developing for heating that supercritical carbon dioxide could be the new take on an old technology that helps power generators adapt to changing demands, in New England and elsewhere, regardless of fuel source.

“It doesn’t care what you’re burning in there to create the heat, and that opens a whole range of technologies,” Stapp said. “We can burn things that others could only dream of.”

Biomass, coal, poultry waste, whatever. The system also uses heat exchangers to recapture heat from the supercritical carbon dioxide after it passes through the turbine, cooling it again and reusing the heat for another go-round. The company estimates the turbine will be 30 percent to 60 percent more efficient than existing steam units.

“We’re coming into the marketplace at just the right time,” Stapp said. “There’s a real need for energy innovation.”

[Paladin2]

Carburettors are the worst. Even NASCAR finally figured it out.

Living at altitude gives one an appreciation for turbo/superchargers, since that turbine engined car never really worked out.

[Rodamala]

So do I get Carbon Sequestration Credits for replacing water with CO₂?

[Rodamala]

When I worked on a shortline RR and the boss had not paid the bill to have the garbage dumpster emptied, I would take the bagged trash and cardboard and any that was burnable that would fit though the firebox door on our steam locomotive... and send it.

TRASH TO STEAM!

[sasquatch]

Hemph, cough cough.
What is the source of the ‘heat’ input????

[smokingfrog]

The Prophet of Garbage http://pops.ci/21IogE

[smokingfrog]

The waste heat disgronificator.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Heat rejection at 27 C / 80 F? CO2 as a working fluid can be used for low-grade heat sources, but where are you going to find the 60 F water needed to cool the rejection heat exchanger? It is very hard to find the cool water sources needed to get the heat rejection at 80 F and you aren’t allowed to heat the cooling water very much.

At the top end, the CO2 is heated to 650 C / 1200 F. You are going to have expensive nickel alloy heat exchangers plus severe fouling from any ash in the fuel sources. High temperature is always the key to high efficiency in any thermal cycle, but there are huge problems to solve at those temperatures. Materials get very expensive. Corrosion and fouling become severe problems.

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

“Why the hell don’t they try burning trash dump garbage and construction waste?”
_________________________________________________________

They do that in two places in Maine.

Penobscot Energy Recovery Corporation (PERC) in Orrington, Maine, near Bangor, has a trash to energy facility.

Maine Energy Recovery Corporation (MERC) in Biddeford, Maine, in the southern part of the state, has a similar facility.

I take my trash to a “transfer station” down the road. No charge, just need a sticker on the windshield from the town office. I can get rid of TV’s, computers, and other items at no charge, too.

[The Great RJ]

Solution for a problem that does not exist. All of these Rube Golderg inventions are all predicated on the clearly disproved theory that molecular level changes in atmosheric CO2 alter global climate.

[Rockpile]

Startech filed for bankruptcy 5 1/2 years ago. The trash incinerators/ energy generators owed the Ct. Power $33,000. Looks like they mainly sold distributtion rights to investors.

[NonValueAdded]

Then why start the article with a false premise?

For the grant money :)

[TexasGator]

“Solution for a problem that does not exist. “

Bringing the cost down on the plant construction of the secondary side by over 25% while making it smaller and increasing the nuclear plant efficiency over 50% would be a giant kick for nuclear power.

[Bob434]

[[It just so happens that climate-changing carbon dioxide,]]

Wghen has CO2 EVER changed a climate? Records of icecores show CO2 ALWAYS rises well after temperatures rise- 1400 or so years after-

But other than that opening propaganda line of the article, it’s pretty cool what they can do for alternative energy- there are also firms looking into CO2 scrubbers, which are designed to capture CO2 and not cost us everything we make to do so- but then again, that’s NOT what the left (and the GOP=e are after- they don’t care about ‘cleaning up CO2- all they care about is TAXING everyone to death over CO2)

And just for the record- records show CO2 was 4000 ppm long ago- life survived fine, we’re only 400 pmm now, so we have a long long way to go to get to 4000- I mean it took us since the industrial age began to rise even 200 ppm- I’m betting we NEVER reach 4000 pmm- not sure what all the hysteria over CO2 ppm is all about

[Daffynition]

It's not that Maine is without a few trees. North of Caribou...there's little else.

[jayrunner]

I have some experience dealing with farm waste products and feel qualified to ask, “Do these guys know how bad a pile of chicken shit smells?”