AlliedSignal Inc. of the US has now introduced in India turbogenerated power systems -- compact power sources that can be used in industrial, automotive and aerospace applications. These pint-size power plants offer clean, quiet, cost-effective and portable energy generating capability.

The TurboGenerator is seen as helping in solving two key environmental concerns: greenhouse gas emissions and the flaring of waste gas. Says Tony A Prophet, president & CEO, AlliedSignal Power Systems, Inc., ``The TurboGenerator technology reduces emissions to levels lower than any other conventional means of producing power.''

The company claims that emissions from the system are up to 75 per centless than from conventional gas and diesel engines. ``This is as clean as you can get in power generation,'' quips Prophet.

According to Atul Bindal, director, Power Systems, Asia Pacific, Allied Signal India Pvt. Ltd, as the world's most promising small-scale power source, turbogeneration's greatest potential lies in the industrial arena. The turbine is geared to meet a host of power-generation needs, including distributed generation, standby power, off-grid power generation, portable power and co-generation.

With a price tag of Rs 10-12 lakh and a generating capability of 50-100 kW, TurboGenerator Power Systems is one of the lowest-cost power generation systems available in the market today. It is also low in fuel consumption and adaptable to various gaseous and liquid fuels. Environmentally, the turbine -- housed in a lightweight, compact unit -- is almost emission free and quiet in operation.

Basically, the TurboGenerator is a gas turbine, but unlike conventional gas turbines, it uses a proprietaryair-foil-bearing technology, instead of oil lubricants. It has only one moving part -- a single shaft on which the compressor, turbine and generator is mounted.

Since the turbine, compressor and permanent-magnet generator are mounted on a single high-speed shaft supported on patented air bearings, the need for an oil-based lubrication system and all of its maintenance demands is eliminated. ``Against the 200-400 hour maintenance circle for diesel generators, the TurboGenerator has a 10,000 hour maintenance cycle,'' claims Prophet.

Since the generator is built into the shaft and rotates at the same speed, no gearbox is needed -- creating a power generating system with just one moving part. That means increased reliability, quieter operation and lower vibrations. In fact, the system has a maximum harmonic distortion of only five per cent. This means virtually none of the sound pollution that is usually associated with diesel generators.

The patented, two-pole permanent magnet generator rotor produces morethan 50 kW power at 80,000 rpm, making it a compact and highly efficient generator. AlliedSignal's TurboGenerator is capable of providing power in the 50 kW to 100 kW range. The maximum power of the system at ISO standard conditions is 75 kW.

``One of the main advantages of the generator is that its combustor can operate on a variety of fuels, including unleaded gasoline, diesel, natural gas and even fuel from biomass and agricultural waste,'' reveals Bindal. The heat recuperator in the system recycles the heat generated in the machine, thus reducing fuel expenditure.

According to Prophet, the TurboGenerator is a highly fuel-efficient system that operates with flame temperatures below NOx-forming levels and still maintains combustion efficiency of more than 99.5 per cent.

Says Viney Sawhney, president, Transcontinental Energy Co. Inc., ``The use of diesel generators in India is one of the highest in the world. In such a scenario, TurboGenerator Power Systems is capable of providing a cleaner and morereliable on-site power source for industries and commercial houses.'' Transcontinental has tied up with AlliedSignal to market the TurboGenerator in India. The turbine also has an electronic control system that manages the flow of power as per a customer's need. One way it could end up saving money for the user is by eliminating the need to buy electricity during peak use periods, when prices are high.

In India, where industrial production is severely affected by power cuts and standby diesel generators have become a norm, the TurboGenerator provides a cleaner and more efficient power alternative. Under the AlliedSignal maintenance programme, TurboGenerators can be expected to provide more than 40,000 hours of reliable operation, claim company officials.

In addition to on-site power, Prophet believes TurboGenerators could be used collectively as a kind of ``virtual utility'' that would provide support to the main grid when, say, the grid is threatened by overload. He sees it as an important source ofreliable power where electricity demand is rapidly growing or where power reliability is suspect.

The generator can also be used as a heat source for co-generation. The ideal TurboGenerator user, Prophet says, would be something like a hotel or hospital-a building for which a turbocharger could provide thermal heat as well as electricity, making this pint-sized power plant even more effective. Transcontinental has already invested Rs 50 crore in the project and has received clearance from FIPB to invest an additional Rs 400-500 crore by the end of 2000.

``AlliedSignal has undertaken a two-year test programme for the system in extreme climates, which means the TurboGenerator will be highly efficient in Indian conditions,'' says Sawhney. ``We are expecting high diffusion and adoption rates for the TurboGenerator, given the power situation in India,'' adds Bindal.