1.
Combustion Turbines
- Combustion turbines (CTs), also referred to
as gas turbines, are a proven technology with the
capability of recapturing the exhaust heat for additional
uses. Efficient, scalable, and economically competitive,
CTS have become one of the most popular DE technologies
in the world today.
2.
Internal Combustion Engines
- Internal combustion (IC) engines utilized by
automobiles, trucks, boats, as well as power generators,
are the most common engine type. IC engines typically
have low initial costs, have good efficiency, are
able to start rapidly, and are highly reliable.
3.
Steam Engines -
Stirling engines and steam turbines both convert heat
into usable power. Steam turbines are one of the oldest
and most versatile prime-mover technologies used to
drive a generator or mechanical machinery. Stirling
engines are also an old technology, but one that has
not seen serious development until very recently.
4.
Fuel Cells - Fuel
cells produce electric current and heat from chemical
reactions, rather than from combustion. There are
several types, including Alkaline Fuel Cells (AFC),
Phosphoric Acid Electrolyte Fuel Cells (PAFC), Proton
Exchange Membrane (PEM), Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells
(MCFC), and Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC). PAFCs are
commercially available today and are the only type
of fuel cell systems that have been sold in significant
quantities to date. Of the more than 200 PAFC installations
in the U.S., all but two are operated as combined
heat and power installations.
5.
Wind - Wind power has
been captured for hundreds of years using turbines.
Wind energy systems are modular and can be clustered
in groups in areas with good wind resources to form
wind farms. Smaller units are available for residential
and business applications.
6.
Solar - Solar installations
are divided into three general categories; passive
heating, concentrated heating, or direct conversion
of sunlight into electricity through technologies
called photovoltaics (PV).
