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Following three years of development, Vector CoGen Inc., Carson City, Nev., has entered the.combined heat and power market with the production of its 5 kW VC-5 and 15 kW VC-15 micro-cogeneration power traits. The natural gas-powered units target light.commercial and large residential areas with a need for electrical power, heating and/or cooling.

"When you look across the United States there are a lot of areas where cogen makes sense;' explained Jim Robinson, director, business development at Vector CoGen. "California has relatively high electrical prices and relatively low natural gas prices. The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast use electricity to run their businesses or homes and hot water for heating. Small or light.commercial customers are in a similar situation, so that includes hotels, restaurants, laundromats, apartment.complexes--any place you can think of where they have an immediate use for the heat from the unit."

In general, cogeneration captures a generator's engine heat in the form of hot water or steam, creating not only an electrical power source but a heating and in some cases a cooling source. "The key to cogeneration has always been harnessing the heat that is traditionally lost in traditional power plants that are only about 30% efficient," said Richard Langson, Vectors chairman and CEO. "For a homeowner, this heat can be used for space heating, hot water and year-round heating of swimming pools and spas."

The units are typically connected to the natural gas distribution line already used in the home or business and the Vector systems are powered by modified Kawasaki gasoline engines. "Our units are designed to run eight to 14 hours a day," said Robinson. "Something that is running all day long is essentially mandated that there is some kind of clean burning fuel used to meet the air quality standards."

The VC-5 gen-set is driven by a 351 cc, single-cylinder, OHV, air-cooled Kawasaki FE350D engine rated 11.5 hp at 3600 rpm. The larger VC-15 unit incorporates a 745 cc, V-twin, OHV liquid-cooled FD750D engine rated 27 hp at 3600 rpm. Both engines are stripped of the standard carburetor and tweaked for improved performance, according to Vector, and on the V twin, the radiator package is modified. In cases where the heat is not used, a dump radiator is installed for simple engine cooling.

Power is generated by a high-efficiency A.O. Smith generator, directly coupled to the engine. The double bearing gen-set provides 208/240 V single-phase or 460/480 V three-phase at both the 5 and 15 kW outputs.

Heat is recovered from the VC-5's air-cooled engine using a custom-designed, patent pending heat exchanger by Super Radiator Coils. The VC-15 gen-set uses a more efficient system that recovers the heat from the engine jacket water. "It's a simpler and easier process and thus more efficient in terms of capturing the heat" said Robinson. Additional heat is picked up from the exhaust and a custom oil cooler heat exchanger.

"One of the most difficult places in pick up heat is the oil system," said Robinson. "You gain 5% maybe 10% efficiency if you are able to pick it up from the oil system."

The gen-sets can heat water to 140[degrees] to 210[degrees] F at 5 to 10 gpm, depending on model. Air conditioning can be provided by the addition of an absorption chiller, the.company said.

The units are enclosed in a sound-attenuated--rated sound levels at 15 ft. are 64 dB(A)--steel cabinet measuring 43 in. x 35 in. x 22 in. for the VC-5 gen-set and 48 in. x 28 in. x 30 in. for the VC-15 package. Dry weight is 345 lb. and 560 lb., respectively.

Controls include a digital tachometer and hourmeter, engine and pump safety switches, gas regulator and shutoff and keyed security switch.

Vector CoGen markets its units primarily for peak shaving. "It's desisted to run parallel to a grid and will shut down and restart independent of the grid;' said Robinson. "The ideal customer for us would be a light.commercial customer with a use for treat, such as a restaurant or laundromat."

Eight beta units have been placed in Southern California and Nevada, since 2001. The first was an apartment.complex in Carson City, Nev., which is currently using the refit to generate power to light.common areas and supplement heating to its swimming pool Regular production of the gen-sets will begin this year at its Carson City facility from which it plans to supply the U.S. through a dealer network and upon expansion, Mexico, Canada and overseas markets.

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