On August 2nd, 2006, Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) announced that, with the support of the Innovation Center for Start-ups, it has developed a residential cogeneration system to supply electricity and hot water. The system is equipped with a 1-kW class Stirling engine generator and designed for use in cold regions.

Because the Stirling engine is an external-combustion engine, it can use any type of energy source, including solar heat, biomass fuel or exhaust heat. It is highly regarded for its variety of potential applications aiming to reduce environmental impacts or save energy. The newly developed Stirling engine generator is a two piston type that employs a mechanical drive mechanism and includes a generator. It has achieved an electrical power generation efficiency of 30 percent, a record high for a Stirling engine generator with a mechanical drive mechanism.

The system can also control the balance between electricity and hot water outputs. It has been designed to employ both city gas and kerosene, and to achieve 800 watts of electric power output, 10 kilowatts of hot water output and an overall efficiency of 80 percent, considered a good balance for family use in cold regions. It is estimated that the system can reduce annual household energy costs and CO2 emissions by about 42,000 yen (about U.S.$365) and 11percent respectively (given a price for kerosene of 70 yen - about U.S. 50 cents - per liter) compared with households using kerosene boilers in Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost prefecture.

In order to market the system, the institute plans to launch a venture and promote joint businesses with manufacturers.

http://www.aist.go.jp/index_en.html

Posted: 2006/11/08 11:32:34 AM
Japanese version

TAG Energy , University/Research institute