R&D Portfolio

Advanced Reciprocating Engines (ARES) have 40% higher fuel efficiency and flexibility than conventional systems and also benefit from ultra-low emissions. Read about ITP's collaborative R&D efforts in the development of these advanced power generation systems (PDF 348 KB). Download Adobe Reader.

The Industrial Distributed Energy activity provides R&D cost-shared support for collaborative R&D to accelerate the deployment, testing, and validation of novel distributed energy applications for industry.

Active R&D Projects

ITP's Distributed Energy portfolio includes research and development on advanced reciprocating engines, combined heat and power technologies, and demonstrations of combined heat and power technologies and integrated energy systems (IES).

Advanced Reciprocating Engine Systems (ARES)
The ARES program is designed to promote separate, but parallel engine development between the major stationary, gaseous fueled engine manufacturers in the US. The program promotes cooperation between engine manufacturers, universities, national laboratories, and engine consultants to obtain maximum engine efficiency and low emissions from natural gas reciprocating engines for power generation. For more information read the ARES program fact sheet (PDF 348 KB). Download Adobe Reader.

Combined Heat and Power R&D Projects

Flexible Distributed Energy and Water from Waste for the Food and Beverage Industry (PDF 1.1 MB), General Electric

General Electric (GE) Global Research, in collaboration with GE Water & Process Technologies, GE Fanuc, and Sentech, Inc. will develop a systematic plant-wide automation for online monitoring and supervisory control. The system will enhance the robust and reliable operation of the waste-to-value plant by reducing frequency upsets by up to 90%. Successful demonstration will lead to widespread adoption and rapid commercialization in the food processing industry, and thereafter to relative industries like pulp and paper and ethanol production.
Technology for Definition, Development and Verification of a 1 Megawatt electrical (MWe) Microturbine/Chiller CHP Packaged System (PDF 1.1 MB), United Technologies Research Center

United Technologies Research Center will define, develop, integrate, and validate (at full scale) a 1 MW microturbine/chiller CHP packaged system. The packaged system will deliver both electrical and thermal energy streams to a large commercial or industrial site at a CHP efficiency exceeding 80% with ultra-low nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide emissions.
Development and Testing of the Advanced CHP System Utilizing the Off-gas from the Innovative Green Coke Calcining Process in Fluidized Bed (PDF 1.1 MB)

The Gas Technology Institute, in collaboration with Superior Graphite Company, the University of Southern California, and Solex Thermal Science, Inc., will develop an energy-efficient process of petroleum coke calcination in a fluidized bed with an advanced combined heat and power (CHP) system using the off-gases and the waste heat from the calcined coke. The total amount of recycled heat from the newly developed coke calcination process has sufficient heat for the CHP to produce process stream and generate most of the electricity used by the fluidized bed.
R&D of an Advanced Low Temperature Absorption Chiller Module with a CHP System for a Distributed Data Center, EXERGY Partners

EXERGY Partners Corporation, in collaboration with Johnson Controls, Inc., and Integrated CHP Systems Corporation, will develop and demonstrate an advanced single-stage lithium bromide absorption chiller module specifically designed to use low-temperature waste heat from clean and efficient natural gas engines. This will provide the combined reliable power source and cooling load that is critical to data center performance.

Combined Heat and Power and Integrated Energy System Demonstration Projects

Demonstration of CHP at a Food Processing Plant, Energy Solutions Center, Frito-Lay