August 21, 2008
There is no getting around the inevitable. As fuel prices continue to dominate world markets, the smart money will be following the development of alternate fuel sources. On the other hand, dependence on fuel is not going to disappear in the coming years. As new energy sources are sought and researched, others are seeking methods to reduce our current usage and make the most of our present situation.
Recycling has become a way of life in many countries. Local ordinances in many locales require homeowners to sort their trash. Many municipalities encourage disposal of waste items with recycling in mind by providing designated receptacles in public places. Water recycling for agriculture is quite common, especially in countries where water shortages are chronic. But, what about recycling the fuel that we burn in our vehicles?
Clean Power Technologies, of Calgary, Alberta, is committed to the development of hybrid fuel technology for a variety of vehicles including locomotives, heavy trucks, and light cars. The company's flagship product is the Clean Energy Storage and Recovery (CESAR) System. CESAR takes otherwise wasted heat from the exhaust of a standard combustion engine and converts it to clean power for the vehicle through a heat recovery system.
A heat exchanger captures waste energy in an accumulator, where the energy is stored in the form of steam. The steam can then be used "on demand" either in the source engine or in a secondary vapor engine. The secondary engine can produce power even after the source engine has been shut down.
Although Clean Power has conducted tests of the CESAR system on passenger vehicles, their primary application, at this point, has been use of the system in the trucking industry. It has proven very efficient for powering trailer refrigeration systems. Initial tests have shown a 40 percent increase in fuel efficiency. It can also be used to power other auxiliary truck systems, such as cab cooling and heating. The potential economic benefits of this system are tremendous. At the same time, the environmental benefits are no less impressive. The CESAR system prevents noxious and hazardous waste from entering the atmosphere and puts it to positive use in a clean, safe fashion.
As development continues towards use of this system in passenger vehicles, Clean Power is continuing its research to develop systems applicable to all transportation sectors.
Emission control and energy recycling – examples of partnering necessity and ingenuity for a cleaner tomorrow.
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Waste heat recovery is done at power plants, too. And it's highly effective. I'm associated with Recycled Energy Development, and nationwide, EPA and DOE estimates suggest we could slash 20% of our nation's greenhouse gas emissions through more energy recycling, not even counting those in trucks. And meanwhile, we'd cut power costs. Not bad.
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