Combined Heat and Power Distributed Generation Renewable Energy

Valencia Water Reclamation Plant Cooper Superior 500 KW Model 6 GTLA Digester gas fueled 400 kWe plus heat recovery

28185 The Old Road Valencia, CA 91355 Background The Valencia WRP power generation equipment was started in 1986 and consists of a 500 kW generator driven by a reciprocating engine that runs on compressed digester gas. The electricity generated is returned to the Valencia WRP power grid, thus reducing the amount of electricity purchased from Edison. The thermal energy generated by the engine is used to produce hot water, which is used to heat the WRP digesters. Water Reclamation Plant The Valencia WRP provides primary, secondary and tertiary treatment for up to 21.6 million gallons of wastewater per day. The plant has the capacity to serve a population of approximately 216,000 people. Power Generation and Heat Recovery At full power the generator produces about 400 kW of electricity and hot water to meet much of the plant digester heat demand. The new power output of the 400 kW represents about 14% of the plant demand. The power generation equipment consumes approximately 63% of the available digester gas. Sulfides and moisture are removed from the digester gas, which is then compressed and fed to the engine. Digester gas is also used to fuel on-site boilers which generate additional hot water to meet the WRP digesters heat demand and also provide hot water if the power generation equipment is not running. Benefits Environmental benefits include a reduction of greenhouse emissions, air emissions that are less than the gas flare, 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.