ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the use of microturbines as auxiliary and supplemental power sources (ASPSs) for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Microturbines are a new, innovative technology based on jet engines. They are small prime movers that burn gaseous and liquid fuels to create the high-speed rotation of electrical generators. The size range for microturbines available and in development is from 30 to 250 kilowatts (kW), while conventional gas turbine sizes range from 500 kW to 250 megawatts (MW). Microturbines run at high speeds and, like larger gas turbines, can be used in poweronly generation or in combined heat and power (CHP) systems. They are able to operate on a variety of fuels including natural gas, sour gases (high sulfur, low Btu content), and liquid fuels such as gasoline, kerosene, and diesel fuel/distillate heating oil. In resource recovery applications, they burn waste gases that would otherwise be flared or released directly into the atmosphere.
