The first in th world (any-fuel) home power station VTES:
- provides private houses with "green" electricity and heating
- runs on any biofuel (including solid ones: wood, pellets etc.)
- is powered by the innovative steam engine
contacts:
VKontakte
The history of the project "KROPAT" is presented as a list of news posted chronologically. At the beginning of the project, the any-fuel power plant VTES "KROPAT" was named as "CHP KROPAT".
News
09.06.2019
In recent months, the steam boiler has been revised: there were assembled and installed new heat exchangers, sensors and new water and steam piping. The testing of the new modification of the boiler was successful and demonstrateded that the flow of steam exceeds the planned parameters and automatic control of steam flow works properly. But tests of a steam engine as part of CHP with a new boiler showed, that in order to bring the CHP to the indicators set by the project (2.5 kW for electricity at 25 kW for heat), some systems of CHP need to be improved, especially steam distribution. The necessary work is planned in near future and then testing of CHP will be continued.
News
03.02.2019
Today a test launch of a prototype of CHP "KROPAT" was carried out with a steam boiler operating on pellets. The video clip below demonstrates the work of the CHP in the mode of "continuous operation", while the pellets were periodically feeding from the hopper to the burner. The results of this test showed that some modifications are required to convert the boiler from gas to pellets. After completion of the boiler modification, tests of the CHP running on pellet fuel will continue.
News
25.01.2019
Today the pilot successful launch of the CHP prototype "KROPAT" running on pellet fuel was carried out. On the photo in the right you can see a pellet burner with a hopper and a fuel feeder, placed on the side of CHP steam boiler. To be the first test of "work on solid fuel", the launch have proved that both the boiler and the engine work successfully if pellet fuel is used, and the generator provides electric current. In the near future, it is planned to conduct long-term tests of a prototype of CHP KROPAT using pellet fuel.
News
19.01.2019
Today the demonstration launch of a prototype CHP "KROPAT" was carried out. On the video below you can see the work of the CHP with the doors opened and closed. These tests were made when the CHP have been running on gas fuel (propane). In the near future, it is planned to conduct tests of a prototype running on pellet fuel.
News
14.01.2019
Over the past six months, within the framework of the project "KROPAT", a new version of the prototype CHP has been created. Unlike the first prototype, the new one features a new dual-fuel steam boiler, which allows the user to select the type of fuel - pellets or gas. The entire power station is fitted in the compact metal casing based on aluminum frame. On the photo below you can see the CHP as a whole and take a look inside through the open front and side doors. It is planned to test the new prototype soon.
News
20.08.2018
The next tests of the CHP prototype with a two-cylinder engine were carried out. As it was planned, an electrical power output of 1,500 watts was achieved. On the video below you can watch the prototype work on the "power increase" mode. On the control panel: the red indicator in the upper right corner shows the electrical power being drawn from the generator, and the yellow indicator in the lower left corner displays the steam temperature.
News
14.06.2018
Today there have been carried out new tests of CHP prototype with a two-cylinder engine (displacement volume - 650 cc). Electric power exceeded 1000 watts at the speed about 500 rpm. Steam parameters was: pressure -13 atm, temperature - 190 degrees C.
News
01.06.2018.
The one-cylinder engine was replaced with two-cylinder engine. Testing of the new engine showed its stable work within planned parameters. In the near future, it is planned to bring the electric power of the CHP prototype with new engine up to 1500 watts.
On the video below you can watch the work of the new engine fitted in the CHP prototype:
News
08.05.2018.
During last months, we have made some improvements in CHP prototype: the steam distribution system of the steam engine has been modified, the asynchronous electric generator has been replaced with a permanent magnet generator, and new test meters and sensors have been added.
The improved CHP prototype was tested today. The boiler was powered by the propane gas and provided saturated steam with a temperature of 195 d. C. and pressure of 14 bar. The following parameters were achieved: engine rotation speed - 675 rpm, mechanical power output - 630 watts, electrical power output (with ballast heating elements) - 450 watts.
For the near future there is planned to replace of a single-cylinder engine with a two-cylinder engine, to increase the electric power output of the prototype to 1500 W, and to assemble and test the pellet steam boiler as part of the CHP.
Information about the development
of the CHP "KROPAT"
29.11.2017.
Recently the development of the design of a gas-powered CHP with electric power of 1.5-2.5 kW and 15-25 kW of thermal power has been completed. A prototype of the CHP was assembled (photo in the left) and tested. The tests showed that prototype runs stably in the cogeneration mode and its perfomance parameters correspond projected characteristics. For the next period 2017-2018, it is planned to refine the prototype for "home appliance" design, carry out certification of the CHP, and find industrial partners to arrange the production of CHP.
According to preliminary calculations, the retail price should not exceed 300 thousand rubles. For comparison, several European companies offer gas-powered home cogeneration units with external combustion (Stirling) engines. These CHPs produce up to 1 kW of electrical power and up to 26 kW of thermal power, and their retail price in Europe varies from 14 to more than 20 thousand euros (depending on various terms).
In parallel with the finalization of the gas version of CHP KROPAT, a solid fuel version of CHP KROPAT based on a pellet boiler is being developed. It is planned that the pellet CHP will practically be the same as the gas CHP in terms of automatic control and ease of using.
FOTO: The prototype
of CHP "KROPAT"