The Electricity Producing Condensing Furnace can be a cost-effective, fuel-saving, and lower carbon footprint replacement for natural gas and propane-fueled hot air furnaces.
Fundamental Theory and Practice
Gas-fueled hot air furnaces became a preferred home heating method after World War II when natural gas became available with long-distance pipelines and distribution systems.
The early gas hot air furnaces were thermostatically ON-OFF controlled with a pilot light, a circulating fan for space air, and a natural draft chimney. Elevated flue temperatures were required to exhaust the combustion products and prevent damaging acidic condensate to the chimney. Chimney energy loss also occurred when it was not hot operating. Efficiency which was defined as the fraction of the heat from combustion that was transferred to the heated space could range from 60% to 75%.
The “condensing furnace” that approached 100% efficiency became the next standard. An additional heat exchanger was added to extract heat from the combustion products down to near ambient temperature along with capturing the latent heat from condensing most of the water vapor. The chimney was replaced with a clothes drier-type vent to the side of the building and a condensate drain. Without the benefit of the buoyancy of a chimney, a small fan is used to force the exhaust of the combustion products.
It is noted that 100% efficiency is a 1st law efficiency but is not the best that can be achieved. The ideal efficiency would be an ideal fuel-burning engine driving an ideal or Carnot heat pump. An example would be a natural gas-fueled engine with a 25% efficiency with mechanical power driving a heat pump with a Coefficient of Performance of three and also recovery most of the 75% rejected engine heat for space heating. The resulting heating system would have a first law efficiency of 150%.
The subject Electricity Producing Condensing Furnace is a method of getting the same overall benefit, but with a module compatible with the connections of an existing condensing furnace. The fuel is supplied to a single cylinder air-cooled engine driving a grid-connected induction generator that converts 20% of the fuel to electricity while recovering the remaining 80% as space heat from engine cooling and exhaust.
Simplicity results from a single module serving as a furnace and electric generator. The generator also serves as the starting motor. The electric grid provides starting power and then voltage and speed control. The engine serves as the combustion chamber and high-temperature heat exchanger. The exhaust stroke of the engine provides the required forced purging of combustion gas. The spark plug serves as the ignitor. The engine cooling fan also circulates the space air.
The United States Department of Energy provided funding for the initial development and demonstration. It was also recognized as an Energy-Related Innovation of the Year by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Initial Concerns and Resolution
While the potential of the Electricity Producing Condensing Furnace was recognized, there were significant concerns related to safety, maintenance, engine life, and noise. It was noted that each of these concerns has been resolved. The original team of Union College faculty and students built prototypes for demonstration and resolved some concerns.
Other concerns have been resolved by the introduction of a similar engine-driven home cogeneration system by Honda called Freewatt. The Honda system has more features that also add cost and complexity, such as the ability to operate separately from the electric grid.
Fundamental Theory and Practice
Gas-fueled hot air furnaces became a preferred home heating method after World War II when natural gas became available with long-distance pipelines and distribution systems.
The early gas hot air furnaces were thermostatically ON-OFF controlled with a pilot light, a circulating fan for space air, and a natural draft chimney. Elevated flue temperatures were required to exhaust the combustion products and prevent damaging acidic condensate to the chimney. Chimney energy loss also occurred when it was not hot operating. Efficiency which was defined as the fraction of the heat from combustion that was transferred to the heated space could range from 60% to 75%.
The “condensing furnace” that approached 100% efficiency became the next standard. An additional heat exchanger was added to extract heat from the combustion products down to near ambient temperature along with capturing the latent heat from condensing most of the water vapor. The chimney was replaced with a clothes drier-type vent to the side of the building and a condensate drain. Without the benefit of the buoyancy of a chimney, a small fan is used to force the exhaust of the combustion products.
It is noted that 100% efficiency is a 1st law efficiency but is not the best that can be achieved. The ideal efficiency would be an ideal fuel-burning engine driving an ideal or Carnot heat pump. An example would be a natural gas-fueled engine with a 25% efficiency with mechanical power driving a heat pump with a Coefficient of Performance of three and also recovery most of the 75% rejected engine heat for space heating. The resulting heating system would have a first law efficiency of 150%.
The subject Electricity Producing Condensing Furnace is a method of getting the same overall benefit, but with a module compatible with the connections of an existing condensing furnace. The fuel is supplied to a single cylinder air-cooled engine driving a grid-connected induction generator that converts 20% of the fuel to electricity while recovering the remaining 80% as space heat from engine cooling and exhaust.
Simplicity results from a single module serving as a furnace and electric generator. The generator also serves as the starting motor. The electric grid provides starting power and then voltage and speed control. The engine serves as the combustion chamber and high-temperature heat exchanger. The exhaust stroke of the engine provides the required forced purging of combustion gas. The spark plug serves as the ignitor. The engine cooling fan also circulates the space air.
The United States Department of Energy provided funding for the initial development and demonstration. It was also recognized as an Energy-Related Innovation of the Year by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Initial Concerns and Resolution
While the potential of the Electricity Producing Condensing Furnace was recognized, there were significant concerns related to safety, maintenance, engine life, and noise. It was noted that each of these concerns has been resolved. The original team of Union College faculty and students built prototypes for demonstration and resolved some concerns.
Other concerns have been resolved by the introduction of a similar engine-driven home cogeneration system by Honda called Freewatt. The Honda system has more features that also add cost and complexity, such as the ability to operate separately from the electric grid.
Ashbery Home School is an annual week-long poetry school in Hudson, New York consisting of daily workshopping, artist talks, a tour of poet John Ashbery's house, readings by poets and many other interactive events. Activities include interdisciplinary experiments in collaboration and process, including the relation of poetry to popular culture and fine arts.
The artistic bric-a-brac of award-winning poet John Ashbery's Hudson residence serves as the primary resource of inspiration for this poetry organization.
Core Faculty
* Founder Timothy Donnelly, poet, editor and professor
* Douglas Kearney, poet, performer, librettist and professor
* Founder Dorothea Lasky, poet, editor and professor
* Founder Adam Fitzgerald, poet, editor and professor
* Harryette Mullen, poet and professor
Visiting Poets
* Tom Healy
* Emily Skillings
* Paul Muldoon
* Robert Polito
* Eileen Myles
* Susan Howe
* Myung Mi Kim
* Kate Durbin
* Emily Pettit and Eric Baus are the poets-in-residence
Former faculty include Tracy K. Smith, Mary Jo Bang, Dara Wier.
The artistic bric-a-brac of award-winning poet John Ashbery's Hudson residence serves as the primary resource of inspiration for this poetry organization.
Core Faculty
* Founder Timothy Donnelly, poet, editor and professor
* Douglas Kearney, poet, performer, librettist and professor
* Founder Dorothea Lasky, poet, editor and professor
* Founder Adam Fitzgerald, poet, editor and professor
* Harryette Mullen, poet and professor
Visiting Poets
* Tom Healy
* Emily Skillings
* Paul Muldoon
* Robert Polito
* Eileen Myles
* Susan Howe
* Myung Mi Kim
* Kate Durbin
* Emily Pettit and Eric Baus are the poets-in-residence
Former faculty include Tracy K. Smith, Mary Jo Bang, Dara Wier.
Jo McCafferty is an acoustic singer-songwriter from Aberdeen, Scotland. She has released seven albums to date:
Career
McCafferty has spent time playing with many different bands and artists, including Midge Ure, Donnie Munro (Runrig), Fish, Marillion and Glenn Tilbrook. She has played in many venues including the Amsterdam Paradiso, Glasgow's Barrowland Ballroom, Croydon's Fairfield Halls, and many other high-profile locations throughout Europe and the US.
In 2005, McCafferty formed the Jo McCafferty Band to play with Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls. The band went on to play a couple of more times throughout the year, and brought a whole new sound to the usually acoustic material. In 2006, McCafferty supported Marillion again in Portsmouth on 9 June 2007, as well playing as a special guest in 2011 at their fanclub Convention in Port Zealande, in the Netherlands.
On 11 May 2009, McCafferty recorded Overtaking on a Bend, working with longtime producer and engineer Grant Milne. The album was released through McCafferty's website and she chronicled the making of the album through a blog.
McCafferty has played limited gigs since becoming a mother in 2012, but this included her first show back in November 2012 with Joan Armatrading.
Discography
*Nothing Whispered to Katy (1994)
*Radiaxial (2001)
*The 8 Year Gap (2003)
*Papercuts & Lime (2004)
*Games For One (2004) (best of and studio recordings)
*Live At The Moorings (2005)
*Overtaking on a Bend (2010)
Career
McCafferty has spent time playing with many different bands and artists, including Midge Ure, Donnie Munro (Runrig), Fish, Marillion and Glenn Tilbrook. She has played in many venues including the Amsterdam Paradiso, Glasgow's Barrowland Ballroom, Croydon's Fairfield Halls, and many other high-profile locations throughout Europe and the US.
In 2005, McCafferty formed the Jo McCafferty Band to play with Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls. The band went on to play a couple of more times throughout the year, and brought a whole new sound to the usually acoustic material. In 2006, McCafferty supported Marillion again in Portsmouth on 9 June 2007, as well playing as a special guest in 2011 at their fanclub Convention in Port Zealande, in the Netherlands.
On 11 May 2009, McCafferty recorded Overtaking on a Bend, working with longtime producer and engineer Grant Milne. The album was released through McCafferty's website and she chronicled the making of the album through a blog.
McCafferty has played limited gigs since becoming a mother in 2012, but this included her first show back in November 2012 with Joan Armatrading.
Discography
*Nothing Whispered to Katy (1994)
*Radiaxial (2001)
*The 8 Year Gap (2003)
*Papercuts & Lime (2004)
*Games For One (2004) (best of and studio recordings)
*Live At The Moorings (2005)
*Overtaking on a Bend (2010)
We Dreamed our Dreams is a song written (words and music) by Irish songwriter Dick Farrelly. Dick is best known for his song, "Isle of Innisfree" theme of the film, The Quiet Man. "We Dreamed our Dreams" was first recorded by, The Fureys & Davey Arthur on their album, "The Scattering" released in 1988 on the Harmac Record Label.
The song is published by Andic Songs / MCPS
Other recordings
Also recorded by: Cathy Ryan, Sean Keane, The BBC Radio Orchestra featuring Finbar Furey on an album of the same title.
There is also a version by Sinead Stone & Gerard Farrelly (Dick Farrelly's son) on an album titled, Legacy of a Quiet Man, the CD is a collection of songs by Dick Farrelly.
In 2011 it has been recorded by Maura O'Connell/Cherish The Ladies in the United States.
The song is published by Andic Songs / MCPS
Other recordings
Also recorded by: Cathy Ryan, Sean Keane, The BBC Radio Orchestra featuring Finbar Furey on an album of the same title.
There is also a version by Sinead Stone & Gerard Farrelly (Dick Farrelly's son) on an album titled, Legacy of a Quiet Man, the CD is a collection of songs by Dick Farrelly.
In 2011 it has been recorded by Maura O'Connell/Cherish The Ladies in the United States.