Humboldt Bay Generating

Station

Presented by,Daniel and

Mileshttp://www.pge.com/about/environment/pge/minimpact/humboldtbay/

History

http://khum.com/sites/default/files/pictures/donbass_0.bmp

•Originally used biomass to produce electricity

•1947, salvaged a Russian tanker for supplemental energy

History Cont.•Nuclear power was the next type of power production

•Closed for repair then later decommissioned

•Decommissioning will be completed by December 31, 2015

http://online.redwoods.edu/instruct/colloquium/0607/

Generating Electricity• Most power plants use fuel to generate steam

that drives a turbine.• These thermal power stations generally have an

efficiency between 30% and 50% • Humboldt Bay has primarily used biomass and

natural gas as fuels used for steam turbines.

http://geothermal.marin.org/geopresentation/sld038.htm

Natural Gas as a Fuel

• Fuel versatility and flexibility• Reduced environmental impact and emissions

compared to biomass or coal

Natural gas seems logical for Humboldt

•Low production costs•Low transport costs once pipeline is installed•Stable national supplies and energy security

http://arstechnica.com/security/2012/08/natural-gas-producer-knocked-

offline-by-malware-attack/

• Natural gas pipeline already in place

• Uses natural gas to power an engine instead of producing steam

• Increased efficiency• Fuel flexibility• Difficult to make and

maintain the exceptionally large engine that would be required to power a city

Engine Generation

http://www.schatzlab.org/news/tag/california-energy-commission/

Reciprocating Parallel Engines

• Instead of one big engine, utilize ten smaller engines running in parallel

• For a generator to perform at maximum efficiency, it generally needs to be running at full capacity

• Using smaller engines, only a few engines need to be turned on and performing at maximum during non-peak times

http://www.pge.com/about/environment/pge/minimpact/humboldtbay/

Ongoing Research

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/manufacturing/distributedenergy/pdfs/recip_engines_brochure.pdf

•Goals of ARES:• 50% Brake Thermal

Eff.• Max .1 gm /bhp-hr

Nox emissions• Maintenance costs

of $.01 EkW –hr• Cost

competitiveness

•Advanced Reciprocating Engine Systems (ARES)

References

•http://www.pge.com/about/environment/pge/minimpact/humboldtbay/•Oppenheimer, Natural Gas: The Best Energy Source, Pen & Podium Inc, 1989, 99•Kazmi SK. Generating electricity on natural gas. Pakistan & Gulf Economist. 2012;31(36):52-3.•http://www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/humboldt/documents/applicant/afc/Volume_01/Section%202.0%20Project%20Description.pdf•Sridhar G., Paul P.J., Mukunda H.S. "Biomass derived producer gas as a reciprocating engine fuel-an experimental analysis".Biomass & Bioenergy. 2000•Dorf, Richard C. "Components of Cogeneration Systems." The Engineering Handbook. 2nd ed. Hoboken: CRC, 2004. 75-12. Print•http://www.wartsila.com/en/references/humboldt-bay•http://www1.eere.energy.gov/manufacturing/distributedenergy/pdfs/recip_engines_brochure.pdf