ECONOMIC AND TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF SMALL SCALE MICRO GAS TURBINES ON UK HORTICULTURE AND THEIR ROLE IN QUALITY MANAGEMENT

This paper briefly reviews the technical developments in micro-turbine based Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units, and discusses the potential benefits in terms of economics and quality to protected cropping horticultural units.
The methodology and test results from trials at the Gas Research and Technology (R & T) Centre are given, and the results discussed in the context of application to horticultural units.
In the final section the economics for several diverse units are discussed as hypothetical case studies.

Micro turbine technology has several novel aspects which differentiate it from other turbine or CHP based technologies.
These may be summarised as the following.

• New technology not just a derivative of existing large scale turbines.

• Direct drive generator at high speed (96,000 rpm)

• Designed for extremely low maintenance and high reliability – maintenance costs around 20% of those of reciprocating engines.

• Life-span in excess of 100,000 hours

• Designed to meet the very toughest emissions standards.

• New type of combustor gives NOx levels tested as low as 3g/GJ energy in.

• Modular design will allow for low installed costs even for small nurseries.

The emissions monitoring at the Gas R & T Centre included NOx, O₂, CO, CO₂ and temperature, and included specific monitoring under variable conditions and long term running.

The case studies are based on financial analysis of inputs and outputs (fuel, maintenance, electricity, heat, CO₂) to and from the CHP, together with quality and scheduling issues relating to both lighting and CO₂ optimisation.
In addition a brief consideration of the possibility for direct electricity sales under the UK deregulated electricity market is also considered.

XIVth International Symposium on Horticultural Economics

A. Marchant, M. Langan, J. Ogier

Cogeneration, quality, economics, micro turbine, carbon dioxide enrichment, CHP

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2000.536.33