Power Plants of the World

Editor’s note: Each year, Diesel & Gas Turbine Worldwide invites prime-mover original equipment manufacturers to submit one specific power generation project it feels merits special attention because of advances in one or more of the following areas: efficiency increase, environmental aesthetics, operation characteristics, emissions improvements or construction principles. For the next several weeks, we will feature some of the most innovative projects on our website.

Guascor Energy helps Acushnet achieve its environmental goals

Titleist is a worldwide-known golf equipment brand, manufactured and distributed by Acushnet Company, headquartered in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, United States.

The first Titleist golf balls were commercialized in 1935 and it has been the best-selling golf ball brand in the United States for decades, used by many professional golfers.

Acushnet is a global organization that is fully aware of its corporate social responsibilities. As such it is always looking for ways to reduce the environmental impact of its operations.

Acushnet employs a dedicated team and engages professional consultants to ensure compliance with all applicable environmental laws and important investments have been made in equipment and processes to reduce emissions even below permitted levels and to achieve reliable and cost-effective energy supplies and to reduce overall energy usage.

One of the many initiatives undertaken to achieve this goal was the installation of cogeneration units at its United States golf ball manufacturing facilities with the target to obtain clean energy from natural gas. These are highly efficient CHP units that meet over 35% of the overall plants’ energy needs, using the generated electricity and heat in its facilities and manufacturing processes.

When looking for the optimum Cogeneration solution to implement in Ball Plant II, located in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, Acushnet chose Guascor Energy’s best-in-class 100EM generator set.

Natural gas-fired, the 100EM genset delivers nominal, proven engine performance of 2MWe electrical power directly at 1200 rpm, without a gearbox to achieve the necessary 60Hz generation frequency, with a 45.4% electrical efficiency, best in class in the market, and with a 92% global efficiency.

In combination with a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) and an absorption chiller, the complete CHP facility generates also 3,300,000 Btu/hr of hot water, 2,000 lbs/hr of steam and 150 tons of chilled water (TR).

Although the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has some of the strictest emissions standards in the country, the 100EM engine combined with its Aeri-Nox oxidation catalyst and SCR system produces half of the permitted emissions.

The facility consumes between 0.8 to 3.8 MW of electricity from the grid and has a mechanical plant to produce steam, hot and cold water, however, having the CHP system significantly reduces their utility costs. Furthermore, the manufacturing plant normally operates during the weekdays when there are additional financial incentives from the utility company to peak shave facility load during the highest demand intervals. As a result, the necessary investment on the cogeneration facility is expected to be recovered in a few short years.

Guascor Energy is a leading company with more than 50 years of experience in the design and manufacture of diesel and gas internal combustion engines with its own technology. The company offers some of the most efficient and environmentally friendly technology platforms, products and services in distributed power generation for oil and gas, industrial, institutional, commercial clients and rural electrification programs. A complete product range that meets the strictest regulatory and safety requirements always adapting to the customer´s needs.

Guascor Energy has a network of more than 50 distributors and partners worldwide, which in addition to our own staff, allows us to provide unparalleled product support and the ability to respond to the specific needs of each of our customers at a fast and personalized pace.