Biodiesel already solves generator fault
MAALAEA – Maui Electric Co. has been using small amounts of biodiesel to
correct an opacity problem with two of its big, 12.5-megawatt diesel
generators.
The stack output of the engines is monitored by automatic sensors, and
from a cold startup the smoke was too thick for too long.
It was a matter of minutes, but the Department of Health fined the
utility in 2000 and ordered it to correct the problem.
There were several tricks to alter the smoke output, but all had their
drawbacks. Eventually, it was found that biodiesel could solve the
problem. A similar problem occurs when the generators shut down.
MECO President Ed Reinhardt wants to use biodiesel not just some of the
time but all the time in all the Maalaea generators. That includes a
variety of diesels as well as the combined cycle turbines – jet engines.
In the somewhat more distant future, once the BlueEarth refinery
approaches its full production of 120 million gallons per year,
biodiesel might even be blended with oil fuel for the steam generators
at Kahului power station.
Biodiesel is not generally used in steam generators, but experiments are
under way in New York to come up with a blend that would work.
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