Honeywell’s non-ozone-depleting refrigerant Genetron® R-245fa is being used to convert waste heat to power at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
The energy-efficient, non-flammable, low-toxicity refrigerant is used as the heat-transfer fluid in an organic rankine cycle (ORC) called the ElectraTherm Green Machine. The ORC uses waste heat as low as 200 degrees Fahrenheit to boil the R-245fa. The resulting vapor is used to drive a patented Twin Screw Expander that generates usable electricity.
Electricity generated by the ElectraTherm Green Machine costs less than a penny per kilowatt hour after its capital payback period of less than two years. By comparison, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, average commercial electricity costs surpassed 10 cents per kilowatt hour in 2008.
The machine, which can generate more than 50 kilowatts of electricity, was named one of the top technology innovations in 2008 by Popular Science magazine, which honored it with a Best of What’s New Award.
ElectraTherm’s energy-efficient line of generators make fuel-free, emissions-free electricity from waste and geothermal heat or pressure instead of fossil fuels, thus offsetting carbon emissions.
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