HomeMy WebLinkAboutStony River Reconnaissance Study of Energy Requirements & Alternatives 1981
OF
ENERGY REQUIREMENTS & ALTERNATIVES
FOR
STONY RIVER
INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERING COMPANY, INC. A MORRISON-KNUDSEN COMPANY
ROBERT W. RETHERFORD ASSOCIATES DIVISION EAL AonA POWER AUTHORITY 3
STONY RIVER SUPPLEMENT
TO RECONNAISSANCE STUDY
OF ENERGY REQUIREMENTS AND ALTERNATIVES FOR -
BUCKLAND, CHUATHBALUK, CROOKED CREEK HUGHES, KOYUKUK, NIKOLAI, RED DEVIL,
RUSSIAN MISSION, SHELDON POINT, SLEETMUTE, STONY RIVER, TAKOTNA AND TELIDA
MAY 1981
Prepared by:
Robert W. Retherford Associates
Arctic Division of International Engineering Co., Inc.
Anchorage, Alaska
For the
State of Alaska
Department of Commerce and Economic Development
Division of Alaska Power Authority
333 West Fourth Avenue, Suite 31
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Under Contract No. AS44.56.010
APA 20/T1
This report was prepared by:
Robert W. Retherford Associates
Arctic Division of International Engineering Company
R.W. Retherford, P.E.
Frank J. Bettine, E.1.T.
James J. Lard, E.1.T.
Mark Latour, Economist
Illustrations on the front cover were prepared and sketched by
Kathryn L. Langman. These illustrations portray several energy
resource alternatives investigated for the Thirteen Villages
included in this study.
APA 20/T2
Section no fF WHY HF APPENDIX A
APA*32C1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summary and Results
Recommendations
Existing Conditions and Energy Balance
Energy Requirements Forecast
Resource and Technology Assessment
Energy Plans
Description of Selected Technologies
Page
1.4
2.1
Sail
4.1
5.1
6.1
SECTION 1
SUMMARY AND RESULTS
APA*32C2
SECTION 1
SUMMARY AND RESULTS
A. SUMMARY
A study was recently conducted under contract number AS44.56.010 for the
State of Alaska Department of Commerce and Economic Development, Divi-
sion of Alaska Power Authority to determine the energy alternatives for
Thirteen Western Alaskan Villages. This study consists of establishing
the following:
Energy Balance for 1979
Existing Power and Heating Facilities - 1980
Electric Power Requirements to the year 2000
Space Heating Requirement to the year 2000
Potential Energy and Electric Power Resources
Evaluation of the Electric Power Resources
Recommendations for the development or future studies
for the 13 Western Alaskan villages of Buckland, Hughes, Koyukuk, Telida,
Nikolai, Takotna, Stony River, Sleetmute, Red Devil, Crooked Creek,
Chuathbaluk, Russian Mission and Sheldon Point (See Figure 1.1).
The Stony River supplement represents a brief summary of the most perti-
nent facts and findings contained in the original report which relate to
the village of Stony River. Detailed data concerning the village may be
obtained by referring to the original report.
Diesel fuels are presently used to satisfy the major percentage of energy
demands in the village. Emphasis in the study was therefore placed on
possible resources and technologies that could replace or at least supple-
ment the use of increasingly costly fuel oil. The energy alternatives which
were selected for detailed evaluation in the village of Stony River include:?
1) Diesel generation
2) Waste Heat Recovery
3) Binary Cycle generation using wood fuel
4) Passive solar heating
5) Energy conservation
1 See Appendix A for brief description of technologies listed.
i=l
APA34*C1
BARROW
OCR,
1 BUCKLAND
/ 2. HUGHES
/ 3 KOYUKUK
/ 4 RUSSIAN MISSION
eT a 5 SHELDON POINT
oa ; iB 6 CHUATHBALUK
we 7 7 CROOKED CREEK
aio" 8 NIKOLAI 9 RED DEVIL
Yuhon— Tenane Patou 10 SLEETMUTE
| 11 STONY RIVER
Lote ‘a 12 TAKOTNA Aloe
ven te Range \ 13 TELIDA
wach 13
2 es ¢ ‘Susine R. |
i Tol aw ' Fo th Or
v River | 73 File, Movies me “in
oy 9 901;
a QP 1 6 tog diets "Ming, |
¢ BE Oo 2 i ? ANCHORAGE \
s Tike at 9 c . takes ee ott oy
or S_yeh wed 2 ve u x Lo DP 4
YAKUTAT q
= 7 S ‘ UNEA
Cult of Aloske ». at | ve \s
» Ss 4
Bristos 89 KODIAK PACIFIC OCEAN
as
4b
su bh Co ho ad FIGURE 1.1 we 4 ee os ALASKA MAP
13 WESTERN VILLAGES
SECTION 1
SUMMARY AND RESULTS
To obtain a comprehensive understanding of future energy requirements
for the village, a control year - 1979 - was established from which all
projections have been made. Information related to village history,
population and economic conditions, plus information regarding village
government, transportation, power and heating facilities, fuel require-
ments, etc., was collected to provide the necessary background data to
support these projections.
B. EVALUATION RESULTS
dy Economics
Table 1.1 is a summary of the 20-year economic evaluation performed for
the combination of alternatives (i.e., energy plans) selected for detailed
study for Stony River. This Table lists the accumulated present worth of
plan costs and the accumulated present worth of the net benefits derived
from non-electrical outputs, where:
1) Plan costs represent the cost for providing electrical
generation, and
2) Net benefits represent the savings derived from waste heat
capture or surplus hydroelectric energy used for electric heating.
a. Twenty Year Evaluation Results
Results of the 20-year economic evaluation indicate that the use of diesel
with waste heat recovery to be most economical energy plan examined for
Stony River.
The diesel generation plus binary generation with waste heat energy plan
averaged approximately 33 percent greater cost than the diesel generation
plus waste heat recovery plan for Stony River.
1-3
APA34*C3
ork STONY RIVER
Table 1.1 Accumulated Present Worth of Plan Costs and Benefits ($1,000)
Diesel Diesel
& &
Diesel Binary Cycle Diesel WECS
PERIOD & & & &
Waste Heat Waste Heat Hydroelectric Waste Heat
Cost-Benefit Cost-Benefit Cost-Benefit Cost-Benefit
20-year 1282-122.9 1717-88.7 N/A N/A
SECTION 1
SUMMARY AND RESULTS
Passive solar and energy conservation have not been economically evaluated
in detail and they are, therefore, not listed in Table 1.1. Numerous past
studies have shown the value of conservation and passive solar heating. An
approximate fifteen percent reduction in fossil fuel requirements due to the
implementation of passive solar heating and energy conservation measures has
been built into the village Heating Requirement Forecast Tables listed in
Section 4. It is assumed that these two methods of reducing usage will be
implemented in the village.
2. Environmental and Technical
Results of the environmental and technical evaluations are listed in Table
1.2. These results indicate the overall environmental and technical ranking
of energy plans selected for detail study for the village of Stony River in
order of preference to be:
iL) diesel electric plus waste heat
2) diesel plus binary cycle generation with waste heat
2s
APA34*%C5
9r1 APA 28P1
. EVALUATION MATRIX
Diesel + Diesel + Diesel + Waste Heat
Table 1.2 Diesel Local Hydro Binary Generation Supplemental
Electric w/wo Electric Coal and/or Wood Wind
Factor + Waste Heat Heat With Waste Heat Generation
(A) Economic (Present Worth) B i (5 =
(B) Environmental
(1) Community Preference 9 = 4 =
(2) Infrastructure 3 = 5 =
(3) Timing x S 7 =
(4) Air Quality 4 - 5 =
(5) Water Quality 2 7 4 =
(6) Fish and Wildlife 2 - 4 -
(7) Land Use 2 c 4 =
(8) Terrestrial Impacts =2 a 4A a
TOTAL 25 = 37 =
Environmental Ranking 1 S 4 =
(C) Technical
(1) Safety 2 - 2 =
(2) Reliability 2 - 2 7
(3) Availability 2 a _8 a
TOTAL 5 i 12 :
TECHNICAL RANKING 1 ce 2 =
OVERALL RANKING B-1 - C-2 _
SECTION 2
RECOMMENDATIONS
APA34*C6
SECTION 2
RECOMMENDATIONS
A. GENERAL
Analysis of the 20-year economic, technical and environmental evaluations
indicate the two most promising energy plans for the village of Stony River
in order of preference to be:
1) Continued use of diesel generation supplemented with waste
heat recovery,
2) diesel plus binary cycle generation supplemented with waste
heat recovery.
B. RECOMMENDED PLAN - Diesel Generation Supplemented with Waste Heat
Recovery.
The 20-year economic, technical and environmental evaluation indicate
that diesel generation with waste heat recovery will provide the most
satisfactory method of providing electric energy for the village of
Stony River.
It is recommended, therefore, that a study be conducted to determine the
feasibility of utilizing waste heat in the village of Stony River. Such a
study should include a definitive review of the following items:
A) availability of waste heat
2) transportation of waste heat
3) end use of waste heat
C. FIRST ALTERNATIVE PLAN - Diesel Plus Binary Cycle Generation Supple-
mented With Waste Heat Recovery.
The first alternative plan, as listed above, is diesel plus binary cycle
generation with waste heat recovery. This plan averages approximately 33
percent greater costs than the recommended plan (20-year economic evalu-
ation). Because the uncertainties in the costs associated with this
alternative, such as the cost of wood fuel, equipment cost, etc., which
2a
APA34*C7
SECTION 2
RECOMMENDATIONS
can not at present be as precisely determined as for the recommended plan,
it is conceivable that this alternative could be cost competitive with the
alternative plan (ij.e., diesel generation plus waste heat recovery).
Because binary cycle generation is viewed as one of the few potentially
viable energy alternatives, suitable for future use in remote Alaska
villages such as Stony River, it is recommended that the feasibility of
binary cycle generation in Alaska be further investigated in regard to:
1) Equipment availability
2) Technical feasibility
3) Economic aspects
4) Environmental aspects
5) Constraints
Binary cycle generation equipment in unit sizes suitable for village appli-
cation is, however, not expected to be available until the late 1980's.
D. COSTS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Approximate costs for determining of feasibility of the two most attractive
energy resources for the village of Stony River are:
e Waste heat recovery - approximately $2500
e Binary cycle generation - approximately $2,000,000 which
would include the cost of constructing and operating
a demonstration plant in Alaska.
E. CONSERVATION MEASURES
For the village to stabilize and hopefully reduce the local cost of
energy immediate short term conservation measures could provide the
most rapid results. These conservation measures, which include added
insulation, double glazing or solar film, arctic entrances, weather
stripping, etc., can reduce current non-transportation fuel use on the
order of 15 percent over the 20-year period of this study.
one,
SECTION 3
EXISTING CONDITIONS AND ENERGY BALANCE
APA34*C9
SECTION 3
EXISTING CONDITIONS
AND ENERGY BALANCE
A. INTRODUCTION
To establish a base and understanding of energy use in the village, an
energy balance has been compiled for the year 1979. Input energy forms
are diesel, wood, propane, blazo, gasoline, and aviation gasoline.
Energy used in the village has been listed both by end use category
(i.e., heating, transportation, and quantities used for electrical
generation) and by consumer category to include residential, small
commercial, public buildings, and large users (school), in the following
table (Table numbered as in original report).
To provide background data, information related to village history,
demographic and economic conditions plus information regarding village
government, transportation, power and heating facilities is included.
a. GENERAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION
History: The village of Stony River is located approxi-
mately 100 miles east of Aniak on the north bank of the
Kuskokwim River 1.9 miles north of its confluence with
Stony River. The village began in 1930 as a trading post
and river boat landing used to supply mining operations
to the north. These facilities were used primarily
by Eskimos and Indians who lived nearby. It was not
until the early 1960's that local Eskimos and Indians
built cabins near the store and established year-round
residency in the village.
Pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of
1971, the Stony River Village Corporation was entitled
3-1
APA34*C10
APA34*C11
SECTION 3
EXISTING CONDITIONS
AND ENERGY BALANCE
to select 69,120 acres of Federal land. When the village
corporation merged with 9 other Middle Kuskokwim Village
Corporations, this entitlement passed to TKC for consoli-
dated ownership and management. Calista Corporation is
the regional corporation.
Population: First recorded in the 1960 U.S. census, the
population of Stony River was listed at 75 residents.
The 1970 census reported 74 residents, 82% of which are
Natives. A local count estimated the population of Stony
River was 67 people in 1979. For 1979, the average
number of members per household was 5.6 persons.
Economy: Stony River's economy is heavily dependent on
subsistence activities. Residents hunt moose, caribou,
bear, waterfowl and small game. The fishing catch includes
salmon and numerous other species of fresh-water fish. In
the fall, berries are harvested by the residents.
Most cash income comes from public employment programs.
Seasonal work is available through the BLM summer fire-
fighting program. The regional school district retains
three full-time employees. Some additional income is
derived from government assistance programs. Income is
also derived from trapping.
Government: Stony River is not incorporated as a muni-
cipality under State law and there is no organized
borough in the area. Stony River's Native population
is represented by a 5-member traditional council.
Transportation: Stony River's location along the Kuskokwim
River affords easy access by boat in the summer months.
3=2
APA34*C12
SECTION 3
EXISTING CONDITIONS
AND ENERGY BALANCE
Barge lines deliver fuel and bulk supplies to Stony
River during the summer months via the Kuskokwim River.
A gravel airstrip accommodates air traffic. Passenger,
mail and small cargo items arrive primarily by air.
During the winter months when the river is frozen, snow-
machines provide the predominate mode of transportation.
There are no roads connecting Stony River to other villages
within the region.
ENERGY BALANCE (1979)
Approximately 62.5 percent of the energy requirements for
the village are for heating. Transportation requirements
are only 12.1 percent of the total, and electric generation
accounts for the remaining 25.4 percent of energy usage in
the village. Graph 3.11 illustrates by consumer category
the types and percentages of energy forms used in the village.
Table 3.11 tabularizes this data in additional detail.
EXISTING POWER AND HEATING FACILITIES
Electric Power: No centralized power generation facility
exists in Stony River. Village electrification is scheduled
for the summer of 1981. The school district maintains
and operates two 50-kW diesel generators which supply the
electrical energy needs of the school and certain public
buildings.
Heating: Residential and small commercial consumer
heating requirements are satisfied almost entirely with
wood. The average annual residential usage of wood and
3-3
APA34*C13
SECTION 3
EXISTING CONDITIONS
AND ENERGY BALANCE
fuel oi] is 8 cords and 75 gallons, respectively. The
community hall and clinic are heated with fuel oi] as are
the school facilities.
Fuel Storage: Diesel, bulk fuel oi] storage capacity in the
community (school + village) is 28,000 gallons (reference 27).
GRAPH 3.11 1979 ENERGY BALANCE
STONY RIVER
EFFICIENCIES ASSUMED: LEGEND _
HEATING — 75% ) — RESIDENTIAL
TRANSPORTATION — 25% (ly — SMALL COMMERCIAL
ELECTRICAL GENERATION — 25% [__] — PUBLIC BUILDINGS
(GN) — LARGE USERS (SCHOOL)
() — «WASTE HEAT
TOTAL ENERGY (100%) 2.2%
HEATING (62.5%)
BLAZO. — 1.7%
PROPANE— 0.3%
WOOD — 23.6%
DIESEL — 36.9%
TOTAL — 62.5%
TRANSPORTATION (12.1%)
—— GASOLINE + AV GAS 12.1%
ELECTRICAL GENERATION (25.4%)
| | | | | | | | | | 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 BTU x 10°
| 10,000
9-€ apa28: a6
ENERGY BALANCE - 1979
STONY RIVER
Table 3.11
CONSUMER ENERGY FORM CONSUMED
HEATING TRANSPORTATION ELECTRICAL
DIESEL wooD PROPANE BLAZO GASOLINE AV GAL OIESEL TOTAL
GAL CORDS POUNDS GAL GAL GAL GAL 10° Btu TYPE NO. 10® Btu 10® Btu 10® Btu 10® Btu 10® Btu 10® Btu 10® Btu % of Total
Residential 900 96 = 900 5,400 1,200 7 2,708
124 1,632 114 686 152 39.2
Smal] Commercial 1 1,100 = Ss = = = = 152
152 2.12
Public Buildings 2 1,650 - - = = = 2,400 559 228 331 8.1
Large User (school) 1 14,800 = 1,200 = 7 - 10,300 3,486
2,042 23 1,421 50.5
Total 18,450 96 1,200 900 5,400 1,200 12,700 6,905
2,546 1,632 23 114 686 152 1,752
% of Total Btu 36.9 23.6 0.3 1.7 9.9 2n2 25.4 100
Waste Heat
10° Btu 637 408 _6 _29 515 114 1,314 3,023 % of Total 9.2 5.9 0.1 0.4 7.5 1.7 19.0 43.8
Assumed Efficiency:
Heating - 75%
Transportation - 25%
Electric Generation - 25%
SECTION 4
ENERGY REQUIREMENTS FORECAST
APA34*C15
SECTION 4
ENERGY REQUIREMENTS
FORECAST
INTRODUCTION
The following paragraphs and tables outline the planned capital
projects, economic activities forecast, and energy end use
forecasts for the village of Stony River.?
1 Tables numbered as in original report.
4-1
APA34*C16
APA 22-A:K1 SECTION 4
ENERGY REQUIREMENTS FORECAST
1l. Stony River
(a) Planned Capital Projects and Economic Activity Forecast
Planned Capital Projects:
Scheduled developments - School classroom addition
‘ Electrification
Airport improvements
Potential developments - Timber harvest
Peat harvest
Farewell coal field
0i1 and gas exploration
Economic Activity Forecast: Stony River could benefit from
timber harvest, peat harvest, development of the Farewell coal
field and possible oi] and gas exploration in areas along the
Kuskokwim. Major developments of these activities are not
expected, however, until the late 1980's or early 1990's. No
immediate increase in economic activity is expected, however,
in the near future.
(b) Population Forecast - Stony River
The population forecast is shown in the following Table 4.11
Table 4.11
Year 1970 1979 1982 1985 1990 2000
Population 74 67 68 70 74 82
# Residences - 12 12 13) 15 21
# Small commercial - 1 i 1 2
# Public users - 2 2 2 2 3
# Large users - 1 1 1 1
Population growth rate - 1%
4-2
q)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
apa22: a6
End Use Forecast
The end uses of energy are shown in the following Tables 4.
STONY RIVER ELECTRIC POWER REQUIREMENTS?
4. 1c.
Table 4.1lla
1979
Population 67
Number of residential
consumers -
Average kWh/mo/consumer -
MWh/year residential
consumers
(2) x (1) x 12 + 1000 7
Number of smal] commer-
cial consumers =
Average kWh/mo/consumer -
MWh/year small commer-
cial consumer
(4) x (5) x 12 + 1000 -
Number of public con-
sumers + 2
Average kWh/mo/consumer 850
MWh/year public consumer
(7) x (8) x 12 + 1000 20.4
Large (LP) consumer 1
(school)
Average kWh/mo/LP 7,300
consumer?
MWh/year LP's
(10) x (11) x 12 + 1000 87.6
System MWh/year
(3)+(6)+(9)+(12) 108.0
System load factor 0.6
System demand kW
(13)+8760+(14)x1000 21
Electrification scheduled for summer 1981.
School at 1% growth rate.
Addition of new school classroom.
4-3
1982
68
12
133
19.2
848
10.2
970
23.3
9,400
T1257
165.4
0.45
42
1985
70
13
160
25.0
968
11.6
1,107
26.6
9,686
116.2
179.4
0.45
46
1990
74
15
220
39.6
1,205
14.5
1,379
33.1
10,180
12250
209.3
0.45
53
lla, 4.11b,
2000
82
21
415
104.6
1,872
44.9
2,142 —
didn,
11,245
135.0
361.6
0.50
83
apa22:c6
Table 4.11b
STONY RIVER HEATING REQUIREMENTS!
RESIDENTIAL CONSUMERS
1979 1982 1985 1990 2000
(1) Population 67 68 70 74 82
(2) Number of resi-
dential users 12 12 13 15 21
(3) Diesel - Average
gal/mo/residence
(6)+(2)+12 6 6 6 6 5
(4) Propane - Average
lbs/mo/res idence
(7)+(2)+12 A 5 10 19 35
(5) Wood - Average
cords/mo/residence .
(8)+(2)+12 0.67 0.67 0.67 0.63 0.58
(6) Diesel Gals 900 900 975 1,070 1,360
. Btu x 106 124 124 135 148 188
(7) Propane _Lbs 700 1,580 3,470 8,810
Btu x 105 14 31 68 172
(8) Wood Cords 96 96 ___104 114 145
Btu x 10° 1,632 1,632 1,768 1,938 2,465
(9) Total
Btu x 106
(6)+(7)+(8) 1,756 13770 1,933 2,153 2,824
(10) Annual per capita
consumption
Btu x 106
(9)+(1) 26.2 26.0 27.6 29.1 34.4
z Assumes a one percent per year decrease in fossil fuel requirements beginning
in 1986 due to implementation of passive solar heating and technical improve-
ments in both building and heating equipment.
4-4
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
(18)
(19)
apa22-A: R10
Table 4.1lc
Smal1- Commercial
user
Diesel Gals/Btu x 10°
Public Buildings
user
Diesel Gals
Btu x 105
Large users
(school)
Diesel equivalent
(diesel + wood)
Gals
Btu x 10°
Propane __1bs Btu x 10°
Subtotal. Btu x 106
(16)+(17)
Total
Btu x 106
(9)+(12)+(14)+(18
STONY RIVER HEATING REQUIREMENTS?
OTHER CONSUMERS
1979
2065
) 4, 201
1982 1985
1 al
1100 1100
152 152
2 2
1650 1650
228 228
aL 1
19,0572 19,057
2,629 2,629
1200 1200
23 23
2652 2652
4,802 4,965
1990 2000
Zu 2
1046 1420
144 196
2 3
1569 1891 216 261
a al
8,123 16,408 2,501 2,264
1141 1033
22 20
2523 2284
5,036 5,565
Assumes a one percent per year decrease in fossil fuel requirements begin-
ning in 1986 due to implementation of passive solar heating and technical
improvements in both building design and heating equipment.
New classroom addi tion. Oo
SECTION 5
RESOURCE AND TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
APA34*C17
SECTION 5
RESOURCE AND
RECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
A. ENERGY RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
The energy resources which are determined to be available for the
village of Stony River are summarized in the following table. Information
concerning approximate quantity, quality, availability, cost, source of
data and important comments is included. The energy resources specif-
ically addressed include diesel generation, wind, hydroelectric potential,
waste heat utilization, timber and coal. While passive solar heating
and energy conservation are not specifically addressed in the table, it
is assumed these two energy conservation measures will be implemented in
the village.- Energy resources which are not available for use in Stony
River and are therefore not addressed include geothermal, peat, solid waste,
oil and gas and tidal power.
Ss)
APA34*C18
as APA22-A S10
Table 5.11
ENERGY
RESOURCE
Diesel fuel
Wood fuel
Coal fuel
Waste Heat!
Recovery
Hydroelectric
Potential
Wind potential
LOCATION
Major supplier
Bethel
Middle Kuskokwim
Healy, Alaska
N/A
ENERGY RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
QUANTITY/AVAILABILITY
167x10% cu ft
late 1980's
Late 1980"s
30% of fuel used for
electrical generation;
upon installation of
new power plant.
N/A
' Assumes $1.47/gal diesel fuel cost 0.45 load factor.
< > saving per million Btu recovered.
STONY RIVER
QUALITY
#2 diesel
138,000 Btu/gal
14.6x10° Btu/cord
8500 Btu/Ib
17x10® Btu/ton
Recoverable heat
41,400 Btu/gal
diesel equivalent
N/A
5.7 mph average
annual wind speed.
SOURCE OF
cost DATA
$1.47/gal United
$10.66/10® Btu Transportation
Bethel.
$92/cord Appendix G
$6.30/10° Btu
$110/ton Appendix H
$6.47/10° Btu
$450/kW installed Appendix D
<$5. 25/10 Btu>
diesel fuel displaced
N/A Reference #38
S Regional
Profiles
COMMENTS
Delivered cost
at village
Delivered cost
at village.
Delivered cost
at village.
-Cost assume heat delivery
within 100 ft radius
of plant. Availability
varies with generator
loading. Maintenance
at $11/kW/yr.
Average annual wind
speed insufficient for
wind generation.
SECTION 6
ENERGY PLANS
APA34*C19
SECTION 6
ENERGY PLANS
A. INTRODUCTION
The approach to the energy plans formulated for the village of Stony
River is explained in this section. Each plan is formulated to meet
the forecasted electrical energy requirements of the village plus addi-
tional related requirements, such as space heating, where appropriate.
A base case plan using diesel generation is formulated for the village.
This plan is used as the "control case" to determine the advantage or
disadvantage of other alternatives as compared to diesel generation.
Future village diesel generation additions assume that the local school,
which has sufficient installed generation capacity, will provide its
own back-up capability. The school will, however, rely on the central-
ized village power plant for their primary supply of electrical power
and energy.
A wood-fired binary cycle generation option is presented for the village
of Stony River. It is assumed the wood required for fuel would be supplied
from timber harvested along the Kuskokwim River and its tributaries. Diesel
fuel oil-fired binary cycle generation is also possible, but provides no
significant cost or technical advantage over diesel engine powered generation.
Fuel oil-fired binary cycle generation is, therefore, not included in the
formulated energy plan for the village.
A waste heat capture analysis is included with all options that
use fossil fuels for electrical generation (i.e., diesel generation
employing engine jacket water cooling, and binary cycle generation).
6-1
APA34*C20
APA 32/A19
SECTION 6
ENERGY PLANS
Base Case Plan
1)
2)
3)
Plan components - diesel and waste heat recovery
Timing of system additions -
Diesel - 1981 - 60 + 75 kW
Waste heat equipment - 1983 - 75 kW
Plan description - This plan assumes the continued
use of diesel driven generators throughout the study
and the implementation of waste heat recovery.
Alternative Plan A
1)
2)
3)
Plan components - diesel and binary cycle generation
using wood fuel and waste heat recovery
Timing of additions -
Diesel - 1981 - 60 + 75 kW
Binary cycle - 1989 - 100 kw
Waste heat equipment - 1983 - 75 kW, 1989 - 100 kw
Plan description - This plan assumes construction
of wood-fired binary cycle generation facilities in
the late 1980's as a replacement for diesel genera-
tion and the implementation of waste heat recovery.
6-2
APPENDIX A
DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED TECHNOLOGIES
APA34*C21
A.1 DIESEL
a. General Description
1)
2)
APA*32C35
Thermodynamic and engineering processes involved
In the diesel engine, air is compressed in a cylinder to a
high pressure. Fuel oi] is injected into the compressed air,
which is at a temperature above the fuel ignition point, and
the fuel burns, converting thermal energy to mechanical energy
by driving a piston. Pistons drive a shaft which in turn
drives the generator.
Current and future availability
Diesel engines driving electrical generators are one of the
most efficient simple cycle converters of chemical energy
(fuel) to electrical energy. Although the diesel cycle in
theory will burn any combustible matter, the practical fact of
the matter is that these engines burn only high grade liquid
petroleum.or gas, except for multi-thousand horsepower engines
which can burn heated residual oi]. Diesel generating units
are usually built as an integral whole and mounted on skids
for installation at their place of use.
A-1
A.2 BINARY CYCLE FOR ELECTRICAL GENERATION
a. General Description
1)
2)
APA*32C36
Thermodynamic and engineering processes involved
In the binary conversion process, a heated primary fluid of
insufficient quality for direct use in electrical production
passes through a heat exchanger to transfer heat to a working
fluid. The working fluid has a lower boiling point than water
and is vaporized in the heat exchanger. The vaporized working
fluid then expands through a turbine or cylinder piston arrange-
ment is condensed, and returns to the heat exchanger. The primary
fluid is returned to its heat source following heat exchange.
Current and future availability
Current commercial availability is restricted to unit sizes
in excess of village power requirements as determined in this
study. Binary cycle generation equipment in unit sizes suit-
able for village application is not expected to be available>
until the late 1980's.
A-2
A.3 HYDROELECTRIC GENERATION
a. General Description
APA*32C37
Thermodynamic and engineering processes involved
In the hydroelectric power development, flowing water is
directed into a hydraulic turbine where the energy in the
water is used to turn a shaft, which in turn drives a gener-
ator. In their action, turbines involve a continuous trans-
formation of the potential and/or kinetic energy of the water
into usable mechanical energy at the shaft. Water stored at
rest at an elevation above the level of the turbine (head)
possesses potential energy; when flowing, the water possesses
kinetic energy as a function of its velocity. The return of
the used water to the higher elevation necessary for funct-
joning of the hydroelectric machinery is powered by the sun
to complete the cycle - a direct, natural process using solar
energy. The ability to store water at a useful elevation makes
this energy supply predictable and dependable.
Current and future availability
Hydroelectric developments in'the United States, as of January
1978, totaled 59 million kilowatts, producing an estimated
average annual output of 276 billion kilowatt hours according
to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Hydropower provides
about 10% of Alaska's electric energy needs. Developments
range in size from over a million kilowatts down to just a few
kilowatts of installed capacity. Hydropower is a time proven
method of generation that offers unique advantages. Fuel
cost, a major contributor to thermal plant operating costs, is
eliminated.
A-3
A.4 WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEMS (WECS)
a. General Description
1)
2)
APA*32C38
Thermodynamic and engineering processes involved
The thermodynamic process involved stems from the sun, the
primary energy source which produces the wind. This wind
energy cannot be stored, is intermittent, somewhat unpredict-
able and thereby undependable. The process then relies
on wind flow over an air foil assembly to create differential
pressures along the air foil. This differential pressure
results in rotation of the assembly around a fixed axis to
which it is attached. Power from the wind is transmitted
through the connection shaft and accompanying gear box to an
electrical generator.
Three types of generators are presently in use with wind energy
systems. These are the DC generator, the AC induction generator
and the AC synchronous generator. Of the three types, the AC
induction generator is the most widely used because of its
simplicity and low cost. An induction generator is not a stand-
alone generator and must be connected to an external power system
of relatively constant frequency and voltage to operate properly.
Current and future availability
Availability of the wind at useful velocities require long
term records to estimate the potential energy. Lesser records
provide less credible estimates.
Availability of WECS machinery in small size units in the 1.5 kw
to 20 kW range is good. Large units in the 100-200 kW range are
currently undergoing tests in both the government and private sector
and should be available in the near future. Demonstrations of
multi-megawatt sizes are in process.
A-4
A.5 DIESEL WASTE HEAT RECOVERY
a. General Description
1)
2)
APA*32C39
Thermodynamic and engineering processes involved
The present use of fossil fuels (coal, gas, oi]1) in Alaska (as
elsewhere) to produce more useful forms of energy (heat,
electricity, motive power) is less than 100 percent efficient.
For example, if a machine burns a certain quantity of fossil
fuel and produces useful output (shaft horsepower, electrical
energy, steam, useful hot water or air for space heating)
equivalent to 30% of the fuel burned, the energy represented by
the remaining 70% of the fuel will appear as unused or "waste"
heat. Such heat most often appears as hot exhaust gas, tepid
to warm water (65°F-180°F), hot air from cooling radiators, or
direct radiation from the machine.
Diesel waste heat can be recovered from engine cooling water
and exhaust, or either source separately. The waste heat is
typically transferred to a water-glycol circulating system in
Alaskan applications. The heated circulating.fluid can be used
for space, water, or process heating where temperatures of
the waste hear are suitable.
Current and future availability
Recovery of diesel waste heat in Alaska is growing as a result of
sharp increases in diesel fuel cost. Recovery of jacket water heat
only is most common in Alaska.
Diesel waste heat availability is directly related to the
location and operating cycles of the engine installations.
A-5
A.6 PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING
a. General Description
Passive solar heating makes use of solar energy (sunlight) through
energy efficient design (i.e. south facing windows, shutters, added
insulation) but without the aid of any mechanical or electrical
inputs. Space heating is the most common application of passive
solar heating. Because such solar heating is available only when the
sun shines its availability is intermittent (day-night cycles) and
variable (winter-summer-cloudy-clear).
A-6
APA*32C40
A.7 CONSERVATION
a. General Description
1)
2)
APA*32C41
Thermodynamic and engineering processes involved
Conservation measures considered here are mainly classified as
"passive". Passive measures are intended to conserve energy with-
out any further electrical, thermal, or mechanical energy input.
Typical passive measures are insulation, double glazing or solar
film, arctic entrances and weather stripping. Energy conservation
characteristics of some passive measures degrade with time, which
must be considered in the overall evaluation of their effectiveness
for an intended life cycle. Other conservation measures includes
improvement in efficiency of utilization devices (such as motors)
and "doing without" energy by disciplines (turning off lights,
turning down thermostats).
Current and future availability
Materials and schemes to implement passive measures are commer-
cially available and increasing in use all over the United States
due to the rapidly escalating cost of energy.