Low Load Diesel Perception & Practices within Remote Area Power Systems

1. How Low Can You Go Low Load Diesel Perceptions & Practices Prof. Michael Negnevitsky | University of Tasmania Dr. Xiaolin Wang | University of Tasmania Mr. James Hamilton | University of Tasmania
Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology

2. This presentation will discuss Intro | Centre for Renewable Energy and Power Systems
1.Why Low Load Diesel
2. What is Low Load
3. Industry Survey
4. Low Load Opportunities
5. Pilot Project
6. Q&A
Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology

3. Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology
The University of Tasmania Renewable Energy Lab Centre for Renewable Energy & Power Systems >8 Full Time Academic Staff >15 Full Time PhD & Masters Students Unique Facilities include;
•Internet Connected Micro-grid Laboratory;
•Remotely Connected Energy Research Workstations;
•Solar Research Facility; and,
•Wind Turbine Torque Transients Laboratory.

4. Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology
•Existing diesel capabilities constrain renewable penetration.
•LLD allows greater renewable input.
•LLD reduces diesel dependence.
•LLD reduces cost of energy.1
Why Low Load Diesel (LLD) Matters?
1.Frischknecht, I. Increasing renewable energy off the grid, Remote Area Power Supply Conference, Perth, WA, 17 March 2014.

5. Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology
LLD approaches may involve:
•Injector performance;
•Variable load cooling;
•Turbo-compounding and variable geometry turbo performance ;
•Variable speed generation.
Low Load Diesel Technologies
LLD explores engine operation via improved low load combustion.

6. Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology
•Average age of generation equipment 5 – 20 years;
•75% of sampled RAPS system operate greater than 4 diesel gen-sets;
•Twin peak is typical daily demand profile;
•Significant seasonal variation in demand;
•RAPS are expensive to run, expensive to maintain.
Market Perceptions and Practices

7. Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology
•LLD exploration should prioritise maintaining ideal engine temperature;
•Diesel operation is the main system issue reported;
•OEM preference more to do with sales & technical support than engine capability;
•Operations and maintenance of low load operation a key unknown.
•Alternative innovation from Hybrid gen, CVT corp, fluxdrive, PMA and Energetic drives focus on efficiency not capability.
Market Perceptions and Practices

8. Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology
•Ability to operate at low loads valued by the majority of respondents;
•Technical barriers to low load operation appear to offer solutions;
•Cultural barriers to low load operation exist;
•Market application appears large
Market Opportunity

9. Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology
•Install an modern diesel generator into a remote area power system;
•Share the operational data & models to validate a low load capability;
•Extend observations into a low load research initiative;
•Deliver a low load roadmap for remote consumers regardless of technology.
The Proposal

10. Sourced: Alan Fetters, AEA, 2013 Alaska Wind Diesel Workshop
Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology
“Utility’s with hybrid diesel systems are running their modern electronically fuel injected diesel generator sets below manufacturers recommended minimum loading for periods of time and have not reported consequences that would deter them from continuing the practice.”
ABB AECOM Alaska Energy Authority Alaska Center for Energy and Power Alaska Village Electric Coop Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) Australian Antarctic Division Bushlight British Antarctic Survey Caterpillar Centre for Appropriate Technology Chininik Wind Group CSIRO Cummins Energy Development Limited Ergon GDF Suez Cofely Hydro Tasmania International Finance Corporation Joule Logic Kodiak Electric Coop Kotzebue Electric Coop Marsh Creek LLC MegaWatt Capital Metamaya MTU National Renewable Energy Agency (NREL) Nome Joint Utility Systems Ninti One RE Plus Synergy (formerly Verve Energy) TDX Power Territory Generation (formerly P&WC) Unalakleet Village Electric Coop University of Alaska Fairbanks Wartsila World Bank
Thanks to;
Thankyou James Hamilton email james.hamilton@utas.edu.au