A Green Energy Alternative for Burning Used Oil

by Kara Bishop
NOLN Staff Writer

For decades, lube shops have burned used oil as a heat source for their facilities; they’ve sold it to third-party collectors; and in some cases, they’ve even paid to have the collectors transport it offsite. Lube operators have had to be very conscious of waste oil standards issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, and grave risk can be associated with this product that lube shops can’t help but generate.

Now, Phoenix Power Group has developed a unique electricity generator that turns the byproduct of used oil into a commodity. The Phoenix-10 generates up to 10kW of electrical power and burns approximately 1.7 gallons of used oil per hour of electrical generation, the P10 can provides a huge portion of the electricity consumed by a typical shop.

 With an external combustion engine developed by Cyclone Power Technologies, the P10 is a green alternative for burning used oil.

Though currently still in development, Phoenix Power expects the P10 will hit the market sometime in the second quarter of 2012. The unit will be marketed through a partnership with Clean Burn Energy Systems.

The P10’s operation is straightforward.

First, used oil is pumped from a storage tank through filters to a small double-wall holding container. From there, the oil is atomized through special nozzles in the combustion chamber and ignited. Stainless steel tubes that contain the working fluid are coiled in the chamber. This fluid is super-heated and then forced into the cylinders of the engine. This, in turn, produces mechanical energy by pushing the cylinders and turning a shaft leading to the electric generator. The rotation in the generator produces electricity that is distributed in the power grid. Once the steam is expelled from the cylinders, it travels to the radiator and then to the condensing pot. From there it makes its way back to the combustion chamber to repeat the process.

Phoenix Power claims many benefits of the P10, including:

• Free fuel — Since the P10 burns used motor oil, and since the average lube shop produces 1,500 gallons or more of the stuff per month, the fuel is of no cost to the shop.

• Low emissions — Cyclone Power Technologies’ external combustion engines are designed to emit next-to-no emissions when burning fuel, thus making the P10 a green alternative for burning used oil.

• Eliminates liability — Since all used oil generated by a facility can be burned through the P10, there is no need to have it transported offsite by third-party collectors.

• Year-round use — Unlike used oil-fired heaters, the P10 can be used throughout the year to provide electrical power.

• Return on investment — In most areas of the country, local utility companies must reimburse or credit generators for any extra electricity added to the power grid at the same rate it charges for electricity. Phoenix Power Group anticipates, in most cases, a payback time of two to three years and positive cash flow within 12 months.

Once the pilot program for the P10 is completed, Phoenix Power Group plans to target all markets that produce used oil including industrial plants, military units and fast lube service centers.

“We have even realized that the generators could be useful for third-world countries looking for an inexpensive outlet for electricity,” said Thomas Thillen, president of Phoenix Power Group.

With the P10 almost ready for mass production, Phoenix Power Group has already started on a new prototype: the P40 generator. It will use the same concept as the P10, but produces more electrical output using higher operating temperatures and pressures.