Traditional backup gensets just sit there as idle assets most of the time, and then don’t always start when you do need them. The new paradigm is to operate Capstone MicroTurbines as continuous power supplies – saving money in CHP, CCHP, or Resource Recovery applications most of the time, and quickly transitioning to standby power when you need it. We call this “Dual Mode” operation. It’s a reliable standby power source that pays for itself.
Capstone offers a Dual Mode Controller to facilitate protection of critical loads. Acting like an automatic transfer switch, the Dual Mode Controller monitors incoming power and tells the Capstone Microturbines connected to it to switch to stand alone operation when the grid fails. Protected loads see less than 10 seconds of outage while the microturbines transition from grid-parallel to stand alone operation.
Great response.
My comments about using a Capstone Microturbine as a pure emergency power back-up system was tied to the air bearing shelf life phenomena. I certainly wouldn't recommend using Capstone Microturbines in that configuration although I think it could be done. A continuously running system, base loaded to the grid 24/7 in a CHP or CCHP application, with the Dual Mode Controller makes a whole lot more sense from an economic point of view as well as a critical power supply standpoint. This is especially true considering that the domestic price of natural gas is likely to remain low for years to come.
