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Mirant’s Dickerson, Maryland Generating Station realized improved generator performance by installing onsite hydrogen generation and control systems supplied by Distributed Energy Systems
 Introduction
The low density and high thermal conductivity of hydrogen make it superior to air for use as a cooling fluid in electric power generators. Hydrogen significantly reduces the windage friction losses within a generator thereby increasing overall plant efficiency. The supply and use of hydrogen gas, however, should not be taken lightly. Considerations need to be made to control costs, secure a reliable supply, ensure the safety of the installation and implement the most efficient way of operating the generator hydrogen system.
Critical to the proper implementation of such a system is the supply of a continuous, stable flow of high purity hydrogen from a trusted source. The traditional mode of hydrogen supply differs from plant to plant depending on plant size, permit restrictions on the volume of stored hydrogen and distance from the central hydrogen supply. Some plants utilize single cylinders or transportable cradles of six, twelve, or eighteen cylinders. Others utilize large bulk systems that are either stationary high or low pressure tanks or transportable high pressure tube trailers. Regardless of how hydrogen is supplied, the goal should always be the same – maintain an uninterrupted supply of pure hydrogen to meet the OEM specified requirements for generator pressure, purity, and dew point.
This case study will present the problems identified by engineers at Mirant’s Dickerson Generating Station during a routine check of hydrogen gas dew point and how those initial findings led them to reconsider their whole approach and work with Distributed Energy Systems to provide a safer, more reliable and more cost-effective source of hydrogen to the plant. |
