Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Anyone here have experience with running Gas Turbine Generators?

This is topic Anyone here have experience with running Gas Turbine Generators? in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Erick Akers (Member # 875) on 05-15-2004, 01:49 AM:

Hey guys,

I've been missing in action for a while;

and I just got back, guess no one missed me! [Frown]

Anyway, i just aquired a 350 HP Jet Engine Powered 225 KW generator for practically nothing!!!

As Paul is our resident Radio Tower Jocky, I was hoping that

he or someone here might have worked with one before, and could shed some light on it's operation.

It's A Solar Spartan 225KW unit manufactured for Western Electric Bell Telephone systems,

but was actually used as a back up for a radio station.

It's in very nice shape, and only has 224 actual hours of running time.

Though I have been playing with Bio Diesel, I have been told that this unit can breeze through about 45 gallons an hour [uhoh]

and so far I have only made about 100 gallons!

I guess I could strip the Jet engine and build something super
wickedly awesome [Devil]

Anyway,

what I would like too do is,

kick the power this baby can make, back into the power grid and have them pay me for a change!

Texas has some nice benefits for using Bio mass for power generation such as:

Exemption from property taxes, and penny for penny payback for
up to 50 KW per hour; anything over, and they pay the wholesale rate ( thats what TXU told me, but it's unconfirmed.)

I'm just tinkering around now, but who knows! [thumbsup]

Erick

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 05-15-2004, 01:53 AM:

Of course we have missed you.

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-15-2004, 02:30 AM:

Welcome Back, Erick!

But, Holy Smokes! 225kW "jet" generator? You'd be better of selling it.

Don't know about the local power company where you are, but here in L.A., we have a great program with big-time tax benefits and very liberal programs to buy back excess power. A lot of folks around here pay no power bill and actually get money back each month.

The costs of the (monitoring, phasing, transfer) equipment you would need to hook up for such a large generator would be astronomical. Let alone the maintenance and fuel costs. It's NOT economically worth it. Plus, I wonder what your neighbors would say hearing that 747 running in the hood? [Smile]

The typical "modern" residential power service is less than 50kW. Most theatres take a max of about 60kW or so.

Where you live, you'd be better off selling that unit and taking the $ and install solar panels. Not only for the efficiency and availability of the equipment and systems, but also for the tax breaks, lack of noise and maintenance, and all the free sunshine "fuel".

>>> Phil

Posted by Floyd Justin Newton (Member # 1316) on 05-15-2004, 10:13 AM:

Well....THAT takes care THAT!! NEXT..........

fjn
Local 294 Ret.
[beer]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 05-15-2004, 01:41 PM:

As long as your neighbors don't mind the noise, wind, and added heat... go for it!!

SR-71 Engine test stand... probably my favorite jet engine photo of all time!!

Mark

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 05-15-2004, 09:01 PM:

Erick, where can I buy one?

Posted by Dominique Replogle (Member # 2387) on 05-15-2004, 09:04 PM:

Hey Erick,

Check out the sepparated at birth thread under film yak. You are now famous.

Dom

Posted by Rob Butler (Member # 2274) on 05-15-2004, 09:12 PM:

at 45gal/hour, I don't know how much of a profit you'll turn from this thing, but if I had aquired this thing, I'd somehow separate the engine and the generator, build a power windmill or a mini hydroelectric dam using the generator, and the jet engine would go in the back of my pickup under a cap with painted-over windows. Then I'd go to the local drag strip and bet people that my Ford Ranger can beat the hell out of their Ferrari.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 05-16-2004, 09:26 AM:

Steve K said...

"where can I buy one?"
_________________________________________________________________
Actually right on E-bay! And this one is a bit more practical.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2477264079&category=26442

Or if you're looking for a larger venture you could always go with these..... The neighbors might notice though!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=42908&item=3815229292&rd=1

Mark

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 05-16-2004, 11:40 AM:

Nah...the little pup is 400Hz and as for the big plant something that large ought to be combined cycle for maximum efficiency where the turbine exhaust runs through a boiler ("heat recovery steam generator" in the terms of the trade) to cogenerate steam feeding either a steam turbine generator for more electricity or used for heating or factory process steam.

Posted by Pete Wolla (Member # 1581) on 05-16-2004, 09:11 PM:

my brother said they had a 350 kvw gas turbine gen set at the gas plant he works at. said it was a nice unit.as to noise when they bring the turbine powered frac units out to the wellsite. first thing i reach for is the ear plugs. if you could make a deal just to run it at peak times you might make money