Cogeneration, a.k.a. Combined Heat and Power, May Be the Future of HVAC – Follow Up

We continue to discuss and follow up on the blog’s most popular posts since inception in 2008. “Cogeneration, a.k.a. Combined Heat and Power, May Be the Future of HVAC” is another of our top post. Pay attention to the news headlines and you’ll see why.

In March, news headlines announced the opening of a biomass cogeneration facility in South Carolina. The Savannah River nuclear science site burns wood chips and tires at around 1,700 degrees to produce steam for two boilers. The steam generates power to run 30% of the plant operations needed for heating, electricity and cleaning, according to The Huffington Post.

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Turning Geothermal Energy into a Hot HVAC Technology

One way to ensure that your facility remains up and running is to invest in the most up-to-date HVAC equipment and technologies. And one of the hottest HVAC technologies this year is geothermal technology.

Geothermal heat pump systems, for example, use 25%-50% less electricity than conventional heating or cooling systems. And they can reduce energy consumption – and corresponding emissions – up to 44% compared to air-source heat pumps and up to 72% compared to electric resistance heating with standard air-conditioning equipment, according to the EPA.

But while more companies are engaged in developing geothermal resources, it still seems to be “that enticing but forever elusive next big technological thing,” sustainability author Chris Turner says in this article.

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Hurricane Irene Tests HVAC Construction and HVAC Maintenance

As Hurricane Irene made landfall over the weekend, many nuclear power plants made preparations to shut down if needed. Fortunately, Irene was downgraded from a Category 2 hurricane to a Category 1 and no major problems were reported at any power plant. Millions do remain without power but the the plants themselves are intact and out of harms way.

Hurricane Irene is the latest reminder that natural disasters can wreak havoc on power plants. For example, below is a chilling video of the Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant in Nebraska after a flood wall failed this past spring.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxcV0F-H0Vo

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How New EPA Rules For Power Plants Affect Cooling Tower Maintenance – Part 2

Yesterday’s post discussed the winding path to new Clean Air Act greenhouse gas standards implementation being taken by the EPA’s updated rules for power plants. Now we want to firmly establish the tie-in to the cooling tower maintenance that you’re involved with every day. It’s important that we all understand the linkages between these ever-evolving regulations and our industry.

The cooling tower connection

What all of these new rules has to do with you, dear Just Venting reader, was already stated in Part 1′s introduction: cooling towers are vital to the power generation industry. They’re also near and dear to our hearts here at this blog. Their effective maintenance and efficient operation is crucial to the generation of ample and affordable power in this age of rising energy costs and impending energy scarcity. And anything that materially impacts the power generating industry, such as the EPA’s ongoing efforts to create and enforce new regulations on power plants, therefore materially impacts your business and ours. Energy efficiency and conservation in all areas is of paramount concern right now, including, somewhat ironically, in the power generation industry itself. More than ever, they have to make sure the equipment at their plants is running at maximum effectiveness.

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