VIP V-10 Steam Engine

Village Industrial Power

Snapshot
Manufacturing & delivery
Performance & use
Research & standards
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Product description Brand name and product description

The Village Industrial Power V-10 is a small-scale, biomass based uniflow steam power plant that transforms wood and waste biomass residues into mechanical, thermal, and electrical energy. The V-10 is a compact steam engine that can be transported on the back of a pickup truck. The V-10 utilizes the same concept that was developed by James Watt in the late 1700’s.

Village Industrial Power is located in Bradford, Vermont with additional operations in Nairobi, Kenya.

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Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Sub-Saharan Africa with operations in Nairobi, Kenya and India with operations in Pune.

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

Village Industrial Power is the sole distributor and manufacturer of the V-10 steam engine.

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

To be determined after establishment of mass production. An initial range is $10,000 – $15,000 USD ^{interview with representative}

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

– Husk Power Systems
– All Power Labs

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal #7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Trained individuals, communities and private sector businesses with access to solid biomass fuel.

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

The steam engine is currently manufactured in Bradford, Vermont on a system by system basis. Welding professionals are contracted to ensure the safety of end users around the high pressure vessel. Mass manufacturing is under development.

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Patent pending ^{interview with representative}

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Users can obtain the product from Village Industrial Power.

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

Six (6) systems have been deployed as of July 2016.

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Available energy type (mechanical, thermal, electrical)

Mechanical, thermal and electrical

Biomass conversion efficiency (%)

Combustor type

Furnace fired

Engine configuration

Single cylinder/piston double acting reciprocating engine

Input requirements (volume and frequency)

40 - 48 lbs per hour. The engine can run 24/7.

Output power capacity (kW/kWe)

Particulate matter and CO emissions (ppm)

Not tested

Pressure vessel rating and operation range (kPa)

Rated to 13,789. Upper range of operation at 300 - 400 psi.

Primary fuel source(s)

Woody and waste biomass including palm kernel, coconut husk, rice husk and sawmill shavings

Thermodynamic cycle

Rankine

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

The V-10 is a 10 kW rankine cycle that combines a furnace box, boiler with superheated steam coils, single cylinder expander, condenser and pump. The system incorporates self acting inlet valves and has eliminated piston oil lubrication through the utilization of self-lubricating carbon graphite materials. The boiler has been designed with a safety factor that is roughly three times higher than common U.S.A boilers.

The 10 kW VIP system measures 2 meters long, 1 meter wide, and 2 meters tall. VIP recommends housing the system in an open sided or screen sided shed having a concrete floor measuring 5 meters x 3 meters x 2.5 meters tall (minimum).

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Unknown

Technical support Technical support provided by

Contact Village Industrial Power

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

Piston seals, bearings, and valves need to be replaced over time to maintain system performance and safety.

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

20 years depending on fuel use, operation patterns and regular maintenance ^{interview with representative}

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

– Boiler pressure rating to 2,000 psi
– Overall thermal efficiency of 70 %
– Useful power output of 10 kW

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

Unknown

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

Unknown

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

The V-10 is rated and certified according to ASME Boiler code and is equipped with an appropriate pressure relief valve. Still, users should exercise caution during periods of high firepower which contributes to higher pressures in the boiler. Only trained technicians and users should repair and operate the V-10.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

– Mechanical devices (sheller, press, lathes, etc.)
– Thermal devices (charcoal creation, drying, etc.)
– Electrical devices (lighting, refrigeration, television, appliances, etc.)

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Village Industrial Power has not published in an academic setting.

However, steam engine research has been ongoing since the late 1700’s invention of the steam engine by James Watt. Since then, thousands of papers have been published regarding the topic.

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

Field tests in Africa and laboratory tests in Vermont have compared the V-10’s performance to traditional energy generation sources such as diesel gen-sets with regards to efficiency and power output.

Other information

Featured in ASME’s Global Development Review Spring 2016 DEM+ND publication.

Videos: – What People Are Saying – VIP Installation and Training Benin 2014

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VIP V-10 Steam Engine

Village Industrial Power

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