Applicability of co-generation equipment as a source of standby or emergency power

摘要

When a thunderstorm left a Houston (USA) research and development complex without power for several hours, it was suggested that an existing natural gas-fired cogeneration system be modified to provide backup power. This paper investigates the feasibility of upgrading the installation to meet standby power requirements. Included are required hardware modifications along with an overview of applicable electrical and life safety codes. Economic factors are presented which compare co-generation system modifications to other standby power alternatives.