Industrial Energy Utilities

Selected Projects:

Field Monitoring an Industrial Direct-Contact Heat Recovery System -

Keyspan Energy New York State Energy Research and Developement Authority

Monitoring the performance of a direct-contact heat exchanger system that recovers heat from the stack gases from two natural-gas-fired industrial baking ovens.  Water is sprayed into the flue gases and used to heat makeup air and preheat condensate supplied to the facility boilers.  The system controller is being used to collect data to quantify the performance of the heat recovery system and assess its impact on the baking process.

 Dairy Coop Refrigeration Plant Expert System Evaluation -

	New York State Energy Research and Developement Authority
	Provided technical support and monitoring services for the evaluation of an expert system designed as an advisor for the plant stationary engineers.  Designed and installed monitoring system for evaluation of the expert system economic and technical benefit incorporating more than 75 discrete data points throughout the refrigeration plant.

Feasibility Study of Absorption Cooling at a Manufacturing Facility -

	Vermont Gas
	Provided economic evaluations of chiller plant modifications for an ice cream and a computer manufacturer interested in gas cooling options as remedy for pending actions in compliance with CFC phase-outs.  Investigated applications of both absorption and mechanical refrigeration options.

Feasibility Study of a Gas Engine Cooling System at a Manufacturing Facility -

	Industrial Client
	Assessed the feasibility of implementing a gas-cooling scheme at a brewery.  The study evaluated several other options including engine-driven systems to produce electricity and drive refrigeration compressors. Also evaluated the option of heat recovery boilers on the engine, assessed new boiler plant options, and recommended improvements to the steam distribution system.

Feasibility Study of a Single Screw Compressor in a High Lift Application -

	Industrial Client
	Evaluated potential of a gas engine-driven single-stage single screw compressor in a high temperature lift application (-40ºF - 95ºF).  Feasibility study addressing specification of compressor system with subsequent performance monitoring for a period of one year.

Development and Evaluation of a Low Temperature Absorption Chiller for Heat Recovery Aplications -

	New York State Energy Research and Developement Authority
	Developed a small, modular ammonia absorption chiller for use in low temperature applications.  The first phase of the project studied the technical potential for ammonia chiller and provided the design for a prototype unit.

Energy Performance Through Sub-metering at Waste Water Treatment Plants -

	New York State Energy Research and Developement Authority
	Stearns & Wheler
	Performed energy monitoring on a process level at eleven WWTPs across New York State, ranging in size from 0.5 MGD to 150 MGD to determine the energy use distribution inside each plant. Sub-metered energy consumption was normalized based on plant flow (as kWh/MG) and contaminant removal (kWh/lb BOD or kWh/lb TSS). Applicaiton and conrol of VFDs on major plant pumps and aeration systems was measured and evaluated.

Evaluation of Potential Application of Real-Time Electricity Pricing at Amherst Waste Water Treatment -

	New York State Energy Research and Developement Authority
	Kaman Sciences
	Developed engineering algorithms and models for an on-line control system designed to respond to real time pricing of electricity at a wastewater treatment plant.  The control system will defer or accelerate processes in response to hourly pricing signals to minimize utility costs.