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Opportunity FuelsRecent spikes in the cost of natural gas have sparked significant interest in alternative fuels for power generation. Often referred to as Opportunity Fuels, these fuels have the potential to be economically viable for use in various power producing systems. Opportunity fuels are typically derived from some sort of waste or by-product. Most of these fuels are inferior to conventional fossil fuels due to heating value characteristics or contaminants. However, Opportunity Fuels can provide a cheap and reliable alternative. With the increasing and unstable prices of fossil fuels, and the need for more environment-friendly energy sources, interest in Opportunity Fuels is on the rise.The focus of our work in this area is to test the effects of using various Opportunity Fuels on the performance of available power generation technologies. In addition, work has been initiated on researching fuel-related issues and determining the performance of a single-cylinder reciprocating engine for a number of Opportunity Fuels. For more information please contact the Cooling, Heating and Power Technologies Program team at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. |
