Optimize gas engine energy
Optimize gas engine energy
(OP)
Would it be a good or brilliant idea to use a stationary mounted gas engine to generate electricity through a generator and capture all its heat through running it through thermal Mass. For example have the water pump send coolant through a radiant floor in lieu of a radiator and have the exhaust pipe zigzag embedded in that same concrete slab. Then the electricity by the generator would be gravy power to powera Workshop or house or whatever?
RE: Optimize gas engine energy
Small combustion engines need maintenance, and I'm not sure the average homeowner would want to give their furnace periodic oil changes. The run-time hours also quickly add up. It could easily see 1000 hours of engine-running time in a heating season. That's like driving 60,000 km in a car. 5 years is like 300,000 km of driving. Is this going to be worth an overhaul every few years?
A heat pump is better ... electrically driven and all. If you live in a climate that warrants having air conditioning, you already have the expensive bit of this - and the cogeneration system will still need not only its own expensive piece (engine) but still need that air-conditioning compressor.
RE: Optimize gas engine energy
RE: Optimize gas engine energy
RE: Optimize gas engine energy
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Optimize gas engine energy
Or do you mean gasoline?
If you want / need electricity that's fine but then you only get heat when you want electricity - doesn't always happen unless you have a decent battery storage system, but then you get electricity and no heat.
Also sometimes (spring / summer) you want electricity but you don't want heat, or not a lot. What do you do then? Your efficiency then drops back to a standard engine of 30-35%
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RE: Optimize gas engine energy
Eventually, exhaust pipes will corrode.
Eventually, a concrete slab may seep CO into the house or other structure.
Eventually, someone may die without even knowing what happened to them.
Don't do the exhaust pipe in the slab. Divert as much of the exhaust heat to the coolant as possible with a heat exchanger, then make sure that you vent the exhaust to the atmosphere away from (or above) the dwelling.
RE: Optimize gas engine energy
RE: Optimize gas engine energy
RE: Optimize gas engine energy
je suis charlie
RE: Optimize gas engine energy
object is to select a set which will run 24/7 at max power, without exporting electricity (unless you get a good price).
Heat can be taken from the exhaust down to a temperature of 120C for natural gas, 150C for biogas, to keep the full exhusr run above the dew point as earlier stated. Jacket water heat can also be recovered, but not all intercooler heat, as second stage intercooler has to low a temperature to use.
RE: Optimize gas engine energy
Question? How to do qoutes on this forum?
It is used extensively in many Alaskan towns.
RE: Optimize gas engine energy
"Schiefgehen wird, was schiefgehen kann" - das Murphygesetz
RE: Optimize gas engine energy
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Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
RE: Optimize gas engine energy
je suis charlie
RE: Optimize gas engine energy
Thank you