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ElectraTherm announces new small scale ORC power generation unit

ElectraTherm announces new small scale ORC power generation unit ElectraTherm Green Machine for geothermal site in Romania (source: ElectraTherm)
Alexander Richter 14 Jan 2014

ElectraTherm announces its new Green Machine 4020, an up to 110 kW ORC power generation unit, designed for low heat geothermal resources and waste heat applications for temperatures between 77 and 116 degrees Celsius.

In a release today, U.S. based ElectraTherm, announces its Green Machine 4020, a higher output heat to power generator. The 4020 is ElectraTherm’s largest output machine, producing up to 110kWe of fuel-free, emission-free electricity utilizing ElectraTherm’s proven Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology. ElectraTherm leads the market in small-scale ORC technology with more than 145,000 hours of fleet run time, and the Green Machine is the only ORC with ElectraTherm’s patented twin screw expander technology suitable for lower grade waste heat streams and able to run with multiphase flows.

“Green Machine 4020 also captures geothermal heat to generate up to 110kW at temperatures and flows well below most ORC technologies. The robustness of the machine and the ease of installation make the Green Machine applicable and economical to the vast low-temperature geothermal resources available around the world”, so Celeste Erlach, the Marketing and Communication Manager of the company in an email statement.

ElectraTherm’s 4020 model accepts higher input flows and as an added benefit the machine can run in Combined Heat and Power (CHP) mode where exit condensing temperatures are sufficient to feed district heating systems or industrial processes. The Green Machine 4020 pairs especially well with larger reciprocating engines sized greater than 800kW to increase both power output and efficiency, and opens new market opportunities in natural gas compression & processing as well as prime power.

Hot water enters the Green Machine 4020 between 77-116°C (170-240°F) and flow rates between 6.4-22.1 l/s (100-350 gpm), where it heats a working fluid into pressurized vapor. As the vapor expands, it drives ElectraTherm’s patented twin screw power block, which spins an electric generator and produces up to 110kWe. ORC condensing heat can be further utilized to supply 50-55°C water to local heating loads.

The Green Machine 4020 comes available in three configurations to meet individual customer needs. The configurations start with a standalone Green Machine ORC at 2.4 x 1.8 x 2.2 meters for the smallest footprint, ideal for easy integration on either indoor or outdoor installations. The second configuration comes in a 20-foot ISO frame for ease of installation and multiple condensing options. Lastly, the turnkey package is available for plug and play installation and includes a liquid loop radiator, all piping/pumps and minimal engineering in a 40-foot ISO frame. See product details and available configurations here (pdf).

The Green Machine 4020 joins ElectraTherm’s initial Series 4000 product, the Green Machine 4010, which offers outputs up to 65kWe and is sized for lower flow waste heat availability. ElectraTherm’s heat to power generators utilize waste heat on applications such as internal combustion engines, biomass, geothermal/co-produced fluids and solar thermal. The Green Machine fleet spans the globe
with 26 installed machines and greater than 95% availability.”

Source: Company release (pdf) and email from the company