Evaluation of auxiliary power subsystems for gas engine heat pumps, phase 2
Abstract
The need to determine the practical, technical and economic viability for a stand-alone Gas Engine Heat Pump (GEHP) system capable of generating its own needed electricity is addressed. Thirty-eight reasonable design configurations were conceived based upon small-sized power conversion equipment that is either commercially available or close to emerging on the market. Nine of these configurations were analyzed due to their potential for low first cost, high conversion efficiency, availability or simplicity. It was found that electric consumption can be reduced by over 60 percent through the implementation of high efficiency, brushless, permanent magnet motors as fan and pump drivers. Of the nine selected configurations employing variable-speed fans, two were found to have simple incremental payback periods of 4.2 to 16 years, depending on the U.S. city chosen for analysis. Although the auxiliary power subsystem option is only marginally attractive from an economic standpoint, the increased gas load provided to the local gas utility may be sufficient to encourage further development. The ability of the system to operate completely disconnected from the electric power source may be a feature of high merit.
- Publication:
-
NASA STI/Recon Technical Report N
- Pub Date:
- December 1988
- Bibcode:
- 1988STIN...8925411R
- Keywords:
-
- Air Conditioning Equipment;
- Design Analysis;
- Economic Analysis;
- Energy Consumption;
- Heat Pumps;
- Electric Motors;
- Electric Power Supplies;
- Electricity;
- Energy Conversion Efficiency;
- Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer