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Capstone to Supply CNG Microturbine Series Hybrid Electric Drive System to Argentine Bus Manufacturer TATSA

Capstone Turbine Corporation has initiated a demonstration project with TATSA, an Argentine bus manufacturer, that will use a Capstone series hybrid electric drive system featuring a C65 microturbine (earlier post) as the range extender for a transit bus.

This will be one of the first applications of Capstone’s new Drive Solution in a transit bus. In addition to a natural gas 65 kW microturbine, Capstone will provide the series hybrid drive solution, including drive motor, inverter system, and vehicle power interface module.

Capstone says that its system, using either the C30 or C65 microturbines, is suitable for a range of electric vehicle applications, from passenger cars to Class 8 trucks, delivery vehicles, buses, as well as construction equipment and marine applications.

TATSA (Tecnología Avanzada en Transporte S.A.) is a member of GRUPO PLAZA, one of the largest transportation companies in South America founded 50 years ago. Among the diverse segments of transportation in Argentina and its neighboring countries, GRUPO PLAZA moves 180 million passengers annually with more than 1,700 buses.

Comments

HarveyD

A smart idea for city buses. However, Argentina has an acute NG shortage but has enough land to produce large quantities of bio-fuels. Could those micro-turbines operate on ethanol or butanol?

kelly

HarveyD has a good point and a few more demo vehicles would make results statistically more representative.

TXGeologist

HarveyD.

micro-turbines can operate on any gaseous or liquid fuel, and most micronized solid fuels as well(de-ashed coal,carbon black,Petroleum coke,Graphite ect)So long as the fuel does not produce a slagging ash that fouls the turbines or the recouperators. Some larger industrial turbines can handle slaging ash fuels as they have acid wash blowdown systems from the turbine blades these turbines burn heavy fuel oil, VFO resid,Pet coke,Number 6 bunker, micronized coal fines ect. Turbines really don't care what you feed them as long as the blades are not fouled or ablated. This is the key advantage to going to turbines multifuel capabilities and high power to weight with mininal O&M cost as air bearings are good for 20000+ hours MTBF

TXGeologist

I have been reading some SAE papers published about modern rotary engines and direct stratified charge injection with plasma rotor coatings for emission reductions, longevity of apex seals, and fuel efficiency, the new plasma coating allow apex seal TBO of 20000 hours or more, in a rotary the apex seal is the only wear surface of significance. GM tested in 1972! D-gun fired tungsten carbide with silicon cermet apex seals the engines tested to 400-500K miles before apex failure, in GM's own words it was "too good" cant build a motor that last 500K for the normal folks.In 1982 Nasa tested a direct injection rotary on diesel fuel at 57 centane and 12:1 compression that beat a turbo diesel in BSFC specifiably .260g/kwh these plasma coatings take the weakness of the rotary system its heat rejection and turn it in to a strength. Nasa's Low heat rejection rotor bested even the top CDI turbo diesel in thermal eff. The point to all this a rotary is a perfect range extender all the benefits of a turbine plus good part load eff. stratified charge rotary have been proven to run on JP8,#2 diesel, 87 octane. Ethanol, Metanol, Methane, H2, and Syngas. These new plasma coated rotarys also meet CARB ULEV without aftertreatment. go to SAE and do some searching the articles are not free but i have a membership to the SAE.

Reel$$

Presumably there's no reason why a system like the C65 could not run a home CHP unit. Plenty of waste heat for hot water and home heating. And 65kw electrical which is more than most single family homes will ever use (ex-VPs excluded.)

And if there is a biomass refinery nearby the unit could be fueled on syngas.

HarveyD

TXGeo: Thank you for the extra information. Could micro turbines gensets be mass produced at a comparable price as ICE gensets? If so, they could be a better worldwide solution for PHEVs.

Henry Gibson

Yes microturbines can be used at houses but lower power ones are needed unless you have a very large home. The air bearings of capstone units allow continuous operation for about a year. Homeowners groups could have two or three of them for ten to twenty houses with hot water provided for heating and cooling. Personal automobiles have been made with Capstone units and others. Honda home units are good sized for homes. ..HG..

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