Microturbine for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Off-grid Communities

Based on a 2006 census, it is estimated that Canada has 300 remote communities with a?total population of 200,000 people that are not connected to the North American electrical grid.?The primary source of electrical power and heating in Canadian remote communities is predominantly using diesel generators. Most of the diesel generators have been sized when these communities were much smaller, which creates load restrictions – limiting building construction and economic growth projects.? Our solution is to introduce a state-of-the-art, fully integrated, residential combined heat and power (CHP) co-generation system that will generate, store, and distribute thermal and electrical power using a novel microturbine concept. This will be achieved using thermal and electrical energy storage, photovoltaic (PV) panels, and other electrical and control system components. The introduction of a residential micro-CHP system would give access to reliable and environmentally friendly power generation, with its high efficiency, scalability, adaptability and co-generation capacity. This project will involve the conceptual design, validation, and simulation of a high-efficiency CHP microturbine and generator, using novel engineering concepts in aerodynamics, thermodynamics, and power electronics.

Faculty Supervisor:

Norah McRae;Luc Mongeau

Student:

Partner:

XL Aero

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

McGill University; University of Waterloo

Program: