Progress in electrical power producing products other other than Stirling engines: PEM Home Fuel Cells: BOSTON, MA/LATHAM, NY/PORTLAND, OR - New demonstrations of small PEM home fuel cell systems as well as well as new deals and alliances reported by three companies are indicative of accelerating activity in this sector in the new year: -- In the most recent development, Plug Power LLC, Latham, NY reported the successful test of a natural gas- fired system of its prototype first demonstrated last summer (H&FCL July 98). The natural gas version produced more than 4 kW on compared to 7 kW for the earlier hydrogen- powered version. -- American Power, Boston, MA has signed an agreement with EPRIGEN, the for-profit arm of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) for alpha" testing of its 7 kW residential fuel cell natural gas- or propane-powered generator at 15 utilities. -- And Northwest Power Systems is continuing this month its series of tests and demonstrations in Bend and Eugene, OR of its methanol-powered 5 kW system that began in early November with a demonstration tour of 7 cities in the Northwest sponsored by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). Northwest Power combined an Italian De Nora fuel cell with its own patented multi-fuel steam reform processor (H&FCL March 98). More: http://www.hfcletter.com/letter/january99/feature.html Gas Turbines & Microturbines Microturbines are a new class of small gas turbines used for distributed generation of electricity. Microturbine development is based on turbines used for aircraft auxiliary power units, which have been used in commercial airliners for decades. http://www.sdenergy.org/technology/gasturbines.html Steam: Steam Turbine - This machine is a real traffic stopper at science fairs and produces up to 1 watt of electrical power. http://www.alexanderscienceprojects.com/steam_turbine.htm Steam Turbine Electric Generator Manufacturers in the World http://energy.sourceguides.com/businesses/byP/steam/byB/mfg/mfg.shtml Steam Turbine Electric Generator Businesses in the World by Business Type http://energy.sourceguides.com/businesses/byP/steam/byB/byB.shtml Miscellaneous/Wind (historical): First Use of Wind for "Large-Scale" Generation of Electricity The most obvious influence on 20th century wind power was the increasing use of electricity. But this started with a look to the past. The first use of a large windmill to generate electricity was a system built in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1888 by Charles F. Brush. The Brush machine (shown at right) was a postmill with a multiple-bladed "picket-fence" rotor 17 meters in diameter, featuring a large tail hinged to turn the rotor out of the wind. It was the first windmill to incorporate a step- up gearbox (with a ratio of 50:1) in order to turn a direct current generator at its required operational speed (in this case, 500 RPM.) More: http://telosnet.com/wind/20th.html RF Jim ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brent Brown" To: Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2002 6:24 PM Subject: Re: [OT]: Hydrogen Powered Car; Steam wins > > On Wed, 24 Jul 2002, James Newton. Admin 3 wrote: > > > > >I've actually looked at stirlings a lot... and I love all the ideas > > >and the research that has been done. BUT. Nothing useful has ever > > >been realized. In the context of useful to the individual, at least. > > >Steam has made it down to the individuals in the past and done some > > >good work. Today, the safety issues of high pressure steam are a real > > >killer (pun intended) but the stirlings are useless to date and share > > >the safety issues of external combustion if not high pressure. > > Don't know if this one has already been mentioned on the list > http://www.whispertech.co.nz/ > > Saw it at a show about 2 years ago so it's real. > > -- > Brent Brown, Electronic Design Solutions > 16 English Street, Hamilton, New Zealand > Ph/fax: +64 7 849 0069 > Mobile/txt: 025 334 069 > eMail: brent.brown@clear.net.nz > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu