Combined Heat and Power Distributed Generation Renewable Energy

Lancaster Water Reclamation Plant IR MT 250 Microturbine Digester gas fueled 225 kWe plus heat recovery 51% Electric and thermal eff. 4 ppm NOx and CO

1865 West Avenue D Lancaster, California Background In 2003, Sanitation District No. 14 entered into an agreement with Ingersoll-Rand (IR) to demonstrate their 250 kW microturbine fueled by digester gas. This program includes an IR gas conditioning system based on research by the Sanitation Districts for removal of contaminants in the gas and the culmination of over 20 years of research and development by IR on the microturbine. Water Reclamation Plant The Lancaster WRP provides primary and secondary treatment (aerated oxidation ponds) for up to 16 million gallons of wastewater per day. The plant is currently undergoing process upgrades to include tertiary treatment and capacity expansion to treat up to 26 million gallons of wastewater per day. Power Generation and Heat Recovery At full power the microturbine produces up to 230 kW of gross power and hot water to heat the WRP digester. The net power output of 198 kW represents approximately 10% of the plant demand. Digester gas is known to contain moisture and silica compounds that can be harmful to power generation equipment. This facility utilizes a novel gas conditioning system that reduces the gas to –10 degrees F and then reheats the gas. Pilot testing by the Sanitation Districts Research Section indicates this reduces contaminants by over 95%. IR will provide both operating and maintenance services for the microturbine facility. The power plant has a control and monitoring system that allows remote plant operations and review of plant data over the Internet. The facility is designed to operate independently of the WRP. During periods when the facility is not operational, electricity is provided by the utility and an onsite boiler automatically supplies hot water to heat the digester. Benefits The project provides electricity and hot water to supplement the plant’s energy needs. Environmental benefits include a reduction of greenhouse emissions, air emissions that are less than the gas flares, and the reduction of air emissions associated with less consumption of utility central generating plants. By generating power where it is needed there is also a reduced need for utility transmission and distribution facilities. The Sanitation Districts funded the total installed cost of $720,000 with assistance from the California Public Utilities Commission’s Self-Generation Incentive Program. The net cost to the Districts was $432,000.