HIGH EFFICIENCY STIRLING ENGINES FOR REMOTE AREAS

The PowerGen series of generators are designed for remote applications in harsh climates and inclement weather. The PowerGen generators provide continuous, reliable electrical power to most SCADA systems, pneumatic compressor systems, cathodic protection, telecommunications towers, and in general any application that requires a reliable source of power.

Using highly reliable Stirling engines with Qnergy’s patented frictionless, maintenance-free technology, the generator can run smoothly and efficiently on a variety of fuel supplies, including natural gas, propane, ethane and more. Through its flexible and modular design, this self-regulating generator can provide a wide power range from 100 watts to 5.6 kW to meet the electrical power requirements of each specific location. Assembled through rigorous manufacturing processes, PowerGen generators are designed for a long lifespan, which is why NASA called them “The World’s Most Reliable Power Generation System.”

Integrated components are designed to allow the customer to control and monitor their power generation asset, minimizing unnecessary site visits for any type of service.

PowerGen System Highlights

  1. Reliable even when fuel quality is poor or contains up to 1000 ppm H2S.
  2. Low maintenance (1 – 2 hours/year typically).
  3. Long life (over 80,000 hours of project life).
  4. Easy mobility: there are no installations or energy supply contracts. Lower cost per watt (2 – 12 times lower compared to TEG thermoelectric generators or combustion cells).
  5. Resistant to hail and theft/vandalism, and more reliable than alternatives.
  6. Its capacity can be easily expanded at very low cost. Market leaders up to 12 kW per site.
  7. Integrated capability and Modbus output for SCADA connections.

PowerGen works seamlessly with virtually any fuel gas supply, including natural gas, propane, ethane, biogas and associated gas streams.

Applications

  1. Flow control.
  2. Power measurement.
  3. Monitoring.
  4. Systems activation.
  5. Impressed current cathodic protection.
  6. Power for pneumatic instruments.
  7. Actuators (low and high power electric and pneumatic).
  8. Power from compressors for pressure reduction in the flow line. Vapor Recovery Unit (VRU) for smaller tank storage systems.
  9. Data analysis.
  10. Monitoring of heating or provision of heating for water tanks.

In the following video, the CEO of Qnergy explains the advantages of working with stirling engine technology and the success it has had in industries that have used it, such as NASA, gas industries and even to generate energy from methane from agricultural waste.

Frequently Asked Questions:

    Question: Why choose PowerGen?

    Answer: Traditional sources of energy generation such as solar panels, internal combustion engines, electrochemical cells and thermogenerators (TEG) cannot guarantee a reliable supply and depend on the stability provided by batteries, they also require customized fuels and do not have the added benefit of availability of waste heat from the system with glycol. PowerGen’s emissions are similar to an incinerator due to a controlled air assisted external combustion system and best of all, the ability to use any gaseous fuel available at the wellhead (including up to 1,000 ppm H2S) ensuring . And at the same time, it reduces the carbon footprint by eliminating the need to carry custom fuels.

    Question: Where to apply PowerGen?

    Answer: PowerGen generators are designed to make your existing renewable energy reliable or to replace diesel generators, solar panels, thermal generators (TEG) and fuel cells. Use them anywhere you need power and heat, near or far from the main electric networks. PowerGens can be serviced while running anywhere power is critical for operations and communications.

    Question: Can PowerGen be monitored?

    Answer: PowerGens are factory wired to transmit only their own operating parameters. However, they are also equipped with MODBUS for SCADA connectivity. We provide free cell phone monitoring for the first year and offer the option in subsequent years if signal is available. Qnergy, the maker of PowerGen, is well-versed in remote operations, as evidenced by its participation in several NASA missions to Mars.

    Question: Can this generator react to external flammable gases? Should PowerGen be treated as open flame equipment with on-site space requirements for this type of equipment??

    Answer: The Qnergy PowerGen 5650 has a closed combustion chamber that is completely encapsulated inside the heat exchangers so there is no exposed surface hot enough to pre-ignite the natural gas outside. In terms of gas entering the air through the exhaust system into the combustion chamber, we have a positive pressure combustion chamber which, when the unit is in operation, prevents “unintentional” flammable gas from entering the chamber. To help you position the PowerGen in place, the Alberta Energy Regulator in Canada clarifies: ?Given the way the Sterling engine works, with a closed combustion chamber and that there is no way for a flame front to leave the unit if there is air/gas mixture, I conclude that it works more like an internal combustion engine than a flame type equipment.? (June 25, 2018)

    Question: How PowerGen fuel consumption compares to traditional remote power sources?

    Answer: A 1,200 Watt PowerGen consumes about 1/3 the amount (less than 27 liters/day) of propane in a 500 Watt TEG, which consumes about 76 liters/day. This improves costs in facilities that rely on propane supply, such as telecommunications and signals, etc. The recoverable heat in glycol systems can be used to keep electronics and battery cabinets in a more efficient temperature range (15?C). We provide 2.5-3.5 times the equivalent heat energy. So 3,000-19,775 Watts of heat is available for your installation if needed.

    Question: What makes the Free Piston Sterling Engine (FPSE) last so long without maintenance?

    Answer: In short, the FPSE is designed to have no contact between moving parts, there are no contact bearings or seals to change wear items. Second, there’s the hot end metallurgy, in which welding procedures and assembly methods were carefully chosen for their durability. Any engineer will tell you that the best designs are usually the simplest. The FPSE is no exception, the engine contains helium gas, which is heated at one end and, as the helium expands, forces a piston out of the hot end and into an oscillating cycle. The indirect action between this piston induces the movement of a secondary piston that incorporates a linear alternator that generates an electrical output. There is no rotary movement, no crank, just forward and backward movement, enabled by internal springs called flexible plates. Flexible plates are designed to have a material fatigue life in addition to the required engine life. The life expectancy of the complete design is on the order of 10 to 20 years, but speculation indicates that these engines can last more than 20 years. Currently (2020) the NASA test engine has been in operation and maintenance free for over 14 years. Read more about testing PowerGen equipment at NASA.