Dresser-Rand and Ener-Core have made progress with scaling Ener-Core's Power Oxidizer, a technology that allows normally unusable waste gas as viable fuel to generate electricity.
Without the need to spend the extra money on the additional natural gas, the technology is said to significantly reduce volatile organic compounds released into the atmosphere. It has now been scaled up to a 2 MW version while being integrated with Dresser-Rand's KG2-3G gas turbine technology, and has moved forward with the production of two integrated 2 MW KG2 gas turbines. These turbines will incorporate Power Oxidizers, that are likely to be installed at Pacific Ethanol's plant in Stockton, California.
By replacing a gas turbine's traditional combustor with Power Oxidation technology, low-quality and previously unusable waste gases that are currently flared into the atmosphere can be converted into heat that can be used to generate low-cost on-site clean power and steam.
Combined with Ener-Core's Power Oxidizer, and based on test results performed by third parties on a smaller gas turbine, Dresser-Rand and Ener-Core are expecting improvements in NOx emissions with no post-exhaust treatment.
In late 2014, Ener-Core entered into a global licensing agreement with Dresser-Rand to develop and market Dresser-Rand's KG2-3G 2 MW gas turbine coupled with Ener-Core's Power Oxidizer.