What is Cogeneration, or CHP?

A D.P. Wolff Inc. Publication
Fall 2011
What is Cogeneration, or CHP?
C
In This Issue
Constructively Speaking
2
Progress Report
• White Plains Plaza
• Yard House Restaurant
• Flynn Manor
• Fox Meadow & Heathcote
Elementary Schools
• Shinnyo-En Buddhist Temple
• Bedford Hills Fire Department
• The Ferncliff Cemetery
• and more...
To Change the Subject
• Backyard Ice Skating Rink
3
• Pellet Stoves
3
• Chicken Pot Pie
4
In the Spotlight
4
• Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers
(914) 767-0515 • (212) 689-7801
Emergency 24 Hours
(914) 767-0515
ogeneration, also known as Combined
Heat and Power or CHP, is the
simultaneous production of two types
of energy – heat and electricity – from
one fuel source, often natural gas. The
ability to create two forms of energy
from a single source offers tremendous
efficiency and thus cost savings and
environmental benefits.
CHP is most efficient when heat can
be used on-site or very close to it.
Overall efficiency is reduced when
the heat must be transported over
longer distances. This requires heavily
insulated pipes, which are expensive
and inefficient; whereas electricity can
be transmitted along a comparatively
simple wire, and over much longer
distances for the same energy loss.
The key components of a CHP system
include an internal combustion, reciprocating engine driving an electric
generator. The clean natural gas fired
engine spins a generator to produce
electricity. The natural byproduct of
the working engine is heat. The heat
is captured and used to supply space
heating or produce domestic hot
water. The CHP process is very similar
to an automobile, where the engine
provides the power to rotate the
wheels and the byproduct, heat, is
used to keep the passengers warm in
the cabin during the winter months.
Combined heat and power systems use
fuel very efficiently. A CHP system
provides electricity and heat at a
combined efficiency approaching 90%.
A CHP Plant is cleaner and more efficient.
This is a significant improvement over
the combination of the 33% efficient
electric utility and a conventional
heating boiler with a ±70% seasonal
efficiency.
Although an electric utility and a CHP
system each produce electricity and
heat from one source of fuel the major
difference is how the produced heat is
used. The heat produced at the electric
utility is not fully utilized as approximately two-thirds of the fuel’s energy is
wasted. Alternatively, while generating
electricity, a properly sized combined
heat and power system recovers nearly
all of the heat it produces and deploys
it on site. In addition, when purchasing
power from the electric utility, a separate source of heat, usually a boiler, is
required. Despite using an efficient
continued on page 2...
Constructively Speaking
Progress Report
D
.P. Wolff, Inc. mechanical construction
division is proud to announce the completion
of the following projects. Once again we want to
extend our gratitude and appreciation to all personnel
and business associates who assisted us in these
accomplishments.
•White Plains Plaza new heating plant.
•Yard House Restaurant in Ridge Hill,
Yonkers, NY.
•Flynn Manor senior citizen housing geothermal
system.
•Fox Meadow and Heathcote elementary schools
plumbing renovations in Scarsdale, NY.
•Shinnyo-En Buddhist Temple expansion in
White Plains, NY.
The Bedford Hills Fire Department’s new headquarters, the Ferncliff Cemetery Rosewood Mausoleum
expansion in Hartsdale, the Dobbs Ferry High School
expansion, the new Salvation Army facility in Port
Curry Subaru/Hyundai
Cortland Maonr, NY
Chester and the new cogeneration plant for Gateway
Plaza in White Plains are all progressing well.
We are all looking forward to the start of following
projects:
•The new Curry Subaru/Hyundai auto dealership
located in Cortland Manor, NY which will have
the distinction of being the first dealership in
New York State to be built totally “Green”.
•The installation of a new fuel oil supply system
for the Gateway Plaza building, located in
White Plains, NY.
•The addition of new state of the art operating
rooms for the Saint John’s Hospital Pavilion
located in Dobbs Ferry, NY.
Salvation Army
Port Chester, NY
Gateway Plaza
Dobbs Ferry High School
White Plains, NY
Dobbs Ferry, NY
What is Cogeneration:
...continued from page 1
boiler, the total fuel required to produce conventional electricity
and boiler heat is greater than the amount of fuel required to
produce simultaneous energy with a combined heat and power
system. Thus CHP-produced energy is more cost effective than
the combined energies from the electric utility and local boilers.
As a result of its high efficiency, combined heat and power
provides considerable energy, environmental and economic
benefits. CHP systems reduce the demand on the utility grid,
increase energy efficiency, reduce air pollution, lower greenhouse
gas emissions and protect the property against power outages, while
significantly lowering the utility costs of building operations.
To Change the Subject...
Backyard Ice Skating Rink
A DIY for the cold winter months...
When I was a kid my father, being the creative person that he is,
decided to construct a backyard ice skating rink large enough for
my friends and I to enjoy. And since we had such fun being able
to skate I decided to share the idea and information on how to
build your own ice skating rink.
Location: Start by measuring out the size and area you would like
to construct your rink and place 4 stakes in the corners. Run a
string around the stakes keeping in mind that you will need a
minimum of 2" ice thickness and measure from grade to the
string. You will notice that areas will have a greater drop then
others requiring more water, this will determine what size lumber
you will need to build your rink perimeter. It is also easier to add
a filler material into the low areas then making up the difference
with lumber, we used bags of top soil because come spring it
could be spread along with grass seed to add to the lawn your ice
rink smothered. Yes, keep in mind that this will hurt your lushish
lawn and the best time to construct your rink is late fall before
the ground is frozen.
Lumber/Hardware: Constructing your rink is actually very simple,
a 24'x32' rink requires less cuts since you can buy 8' and 16'
pieces of lumber. Our lumber of choice was 2x10’s pressure treated so the lumber would last for years of reconstruction. Fasten
your boards together with 2.5" all weather decking screws and a
electric drill – square head screws are harder to strip out.
Liner: There are a few ways to form a liner in your rink. The first
is a large sheet of plastic vapor barrier, a 20'x100' roll is relatively
cheap. This works very well but will only last one season.
Another option is a large tarp which might have a longer life and
can be used for multiple seasons.
Assembly: Lay out the
boards where your 4
stakes and string is set.
Cut pieces of 2x4 in
10" lengths and use
them in the 4 corners
to join the boards
together and also where the boards had to be spliced to achieve
the length and width of your rink. Then cut sections of 2x4 into
12" lengths and taper one end into a point to be driven into the
ground in various locations to support the perimeter boards and
hold the pressure once water is added. Once the rink is constructed, add a filler material into the lower areas so your liner does not
attempt to bulge out under your support boards.
Time to Fill it: Install your liner, making sure to leave at least a
foot of overhang in order to staple it to the support boards,
holding it in place while you fill your rink. You can trim off the
extra when the rink is full. Filling the rink is simple but should be
done once constant cold temperatures are forecasted. Be patient
because if you crack the ice it will freeze uneven.
Prep it: Zamboni time! We used a rink rake to smooth our ice; it
is a simple item to build if you do not want to purchase one. All
that is needed is some PVC pipe which distributes a thin layer of
water onto the ice just like a zamboni. This procedure may take a
few tries but your ice will be nice and smooth.
So that’s it! Building your own rink does require a bit of work and
practice, but the materials are cheap and most can be reused over
and over again. Winter will be upon us soon enough so get out
there and build a rink, the neighborhood kids will love you!
To Change the Subject...
Pellet Stoves:
A great way to warm up after a day of skating in your backyard...
With the continual rise of energy costs, many Americans are
seeking an alternative fuel to heat their homes. One alternative is a pellet stove. Pellet stoves are stoves that burn pellets
generally made of sawdust and wood shavings converted into
an energy-dense fuel. Some of the more
conventional fuels such as home heating
oil or propane can cost 1.5-2 times as much
as heating your home with a pellet stove.
Just like anything in life – there are no free
lunches, pellet stoves do require more maintenance than some of the other conventional
fuel choices and depending on the layout of
your home may not deliver adequate heat to
all of the rooms. They are best used as a
All data contained within believed accurate, not warranted. All data subject to verification.
device to supplement the system currently in place allowing the
existing system to heat the areas not open to the room where
the stove is located. It should also be noted that pellet stoves
do not burn quite as cleanly as natural gas or even oil, which
can be a concern for people with respiratory
difficulties.
There are a lot of exciting new alternatives to
traditional heating methods, pellet stoves being
one of them. If you have an area to store the
pellets needed (typically ordered by the ton) and
the time to load, light, tend and clean the
stove, there is money to be saved! If not, then
maybe the next form of alternative energy is for
you, only time will tell.
143 BEDFORD ROAD
KATONAH, NY 10536
In The Spotlight
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers is the overseas mission
outreach of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States
that follows Jesus in serving the poor and others in need in 28
countries that include the U.S. Maryknoll was co-founded by
Father James Anthony Walsh of Cambridge, Massachusetts,
and Father Thomas Frederick Price of Wilmington, North
Carolina, as the
Catholic Foreign
Mission Society of
America and received
the blessing of Pope Pius X on June 29, 1911. During its first
100 years, The Maryknoll Society has witnessed to the Gospel
in word and deed by combating poverty, providing healthcare,
building communities and promoting human rights in Asia,
Africa and Latin America, along with mission education
outreach within the U.S.
Chicken Pot Pie:
The Gift of Mission – The Maryknoll Journey is the celebratory
theme that is commemorating the centennial year of the
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers during 2011.
“During our centennial year and going forward, we will continue to burn the flame of
mission,” said Father Edward M. Dougherty,
superior general, Maryknoll Fathers and
Brothers. “We are fanning the flame in the
hearts of all Society members who are keeping the flame alive throughout the world.”
D. P Wolff is proud to be associated with
the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers as
their HVAC service and maintenance provider for the
seminary campus in Maryknoll, NY and the Maryknoll
Society House in New York City.
A delicious meal to enjoy while sitting around your pellet stove after skating!
Below is a recipe for Chicken Pot Pie... Comfort food in the
cold weather. It’s food for your mind, body & soul.
Ingredients:
1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breast – cubed
1 cup each sliced carrots & frozen green peas
½ cup sliced celery
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup all- purpose flour
½ tsp salt
1¾ cups chicken broth
2/3 cup milk
¼ tsp each black pepper & celery seed
Garlic powder & poultry season optional
2 (9”) unbaked pie crusts
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425° F
In a sauce pan, combine chicken, carrots, peas & celery. Add
water to cover & boil for 15 minutes.
Remove from heat, drain. Set aside.
In the saucepan over medium heat, cook onions in butter until
soft & translucent. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, celery seed. Slowly
stir in broth & milk. Simmer until thick.
Remove from heat. Set aside.
Place the chicken mixture in bottom piecrust. Pour hot liquid
mixture over. Cover with top crust, seal edges. Make small slits
in top to allow steam to escape.
Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes until pastry is
golden brown & filling is bubbly.
Cool for 10 minutes before serving & enjoy.