Advanced Energy Projects at CSUN

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College of Engineering and Computer
Science Energy Research Center
Advanced Energy Projects at CSUN
Hamid Johari Director, Energy Research
Center Chair, Department of Mechanical
Engineering February 27, 2009
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Outline
- CSUN Background - Energy Research Center - 3
Case Studies - Summary
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CSUN Background

• One of the largest CSU campuses and the only
  public university in Los Angeles San Fernando
  Valley, enrolling over 36,000 students.
• Annual economic impact of nearly 700 million and
  responsible for nearly 12,000 jobs, through
  direct employment and local spending.
• Basic and applied research grants of over 25
  million in 2006.

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CSUN Background
CSUN is a leader in pursuing green technologies
1 MW fuel cell plant
PV panels provide shade for parking and generate
672 kW
180 kW micro-turbines
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College of Engineering

• College Centers
• Energy Research Center
• Center for Research and Services
• Ernie Schaeffer Center for Entrepreneurship
  and Innovation

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Energy Research Center

• A multidisciplinary, university-industry research
  center focused on alternative energy sources,
  generation, distribution and utilization.
• Research funding sought from industry, various
  agencies and foundations.
• Applied research conducted by the faculty and
  staff.

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Case Studies
Three Case Studies

• MicroTurbines for clean power and CHP
• Solar panels to augment daytime power
• Fuel cell power plant to produce energy
  (electricity heat) subtropical rain forest for
  carbon sequestration

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Microturbines
Capstone Microturbines

• Six 30 kW units installed in the 95-97 period.
• Purchased with a grant from South Coast Air
  Quality Management, in collaboration with UCI
• Natural gas feed
• 24/7 operation
• Low NOx (lt 9 ppm)
• 530?F exhaust

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Microturbines
Faculty / Student Involvement

• The first collaborative project
• Two faculty members were involved one interested
  in CHP aspects, the other in emissions and
  monitoring
• Several students involved with the installation
• Resulted in grant application by faculty to
  examine the emissions performance

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Microturbines
Follow-up / Lessons

• Monitoring of gas feed and power output in a
  commercial setting.
• Data sharing and collaboration with UC Irvine
• Observed early reliability issues
• Encouraged further pursuit of energy projects

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PV Solar Panel Project
Solar Panel Projects

• Installed PV panels over student parking lots
  over two phases in 2003 and 2005
• First set 225 kW second set 467 kW
• Augment base load during daytime
• Incentives helped!
• Opportunities thru
• the California
• Solar Initiative

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PV Solar Panel Project
Faculty / Student Involvement

• Faculty member with ERC acted as consultant
  during the early phases of the project.
• 12 students were involved throughout.
• Design and installation.
• ME and EE students

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PV Solar Panel Project
Advantages

• Students designed skid used in the installation.
• Real world design experience for students
• Employment opportunities
• Major savings for CSUN

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Fuel Cell Plant
Fuel Cell Power Plant

• 1 MW (4 X 250 kW) fuel cell plant was dedicated
  on February 23, 2007
• Largest fuel cell plant on a university campus in
  the world
• Molten carbonate technology
• Generates base load electricity as well as heat
  for campus hot water loop and student swimming
  pool

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Fuel Cell Plant
Fuel Cell Operation
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Fuel Cell Plant
Barometric Thermal Trap
proven in practice two years of operation
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BaTT Advantages

• Simple device to combine multiple exhaust streams
  for Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
• Inherent safety for back-pressure sensitive
  systems such as fuel cells
• Stress-free joints alleviate any thermal shocks
• Maintenance-free / no moving parts
• Cost savings
• increasing CHP efficiency resulting in
  significant savings

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Fuel Cell Plant
Subtropical Rain Forest CO2 Sequestration
Moist CO2 rich effluent for plant growth in an
open setting
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Fuel Cell Plant
Faculty / Student Involvement

• Three faculty members from ME
• Consultant on fuel cell technologies
• Design of the thermal trap system combining the
  exhaust from the 4 units
• Assessment of the combined efficiency of the
  fuel cell plant.
• Grant proposal to study various aspects

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Fuel Cell Plant
Student Involvement

• Several students from EE and ME
• Students researched the available technologies
  and developed specifications used in the bid.
• Involved in the design, build and installation.

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Fuel Cell Plant
Follow-up / Lessons

• Patent as a result of the collaboration
• Other universities interested in the data
  collected from the fuel cell plant
• Significant savings from the self-installation
• Possibility of experimentation with the fuel cell
  plant to optimize operation

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Summary

• Progressive agenda set by the director of CSUN
  Physical Plant
• Focus on solar and fuel cell projects
• Involvement of faculty and students at the design
  stage
• Campus facilities allow commercial scale
  testing and data collection

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