Title:
8.5 MWth CHP Plant in Oberwart, Austria - based on DFB Steam Gasification of Solid Biomass - Achieves Continuous Full Load Operation Through Stringent Optimization
Author(s):
Kotik, J., Rauch, R., Hofbauer, H., Bosch, K., Schwenninger, F.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
In times of heavily fluctuating biomass prices for energy conversion/production, it is of utmost importance to secure and stabilize a continuously high load operation of decentralised CHP plants based on solid biomass such as wood chips from forestry. The 8.5 MWth CHP plant in Oberwart, based on the DFB steam gasification technology as developed at VUT, struggled to get into continuous full load operation with 2.7 MWel and 1.5 MWth output for the past two years. This was partly attributed to the poor downstream equipment installed previously and partly due to the enduring very high biomass water content (> 35 wt¬%) entering the gasifier. During an intense optimization phase lasting over one and a half years, gas velocities in the product gas cooling section have been reduced significantly; an additional heat exchanger in the flue gas cooling section was installed to ensure a sufficiently low entry ¬temperature into the flue gas bag filter and to increase heat output efficiency. Furthermore, a newly designed vertical chute dryer, based on a cross ¬flow belt ¬dryer concept, was developed and replaced the old, inefficient drying apparatus. Mass¬ and energy balances have been calculated for the revised plant design including the new biomass dryer using IPSEpro. Efficiencies of nearly 32 % (brut) electrical and 66 % (brut) overall are being achieved. Due to the now continuously high syngas production, ongoing R&D projects concerning further synthesis of the producer gas for hydrogen and BioSNG generation at the plant site in Oberwart, Austria are able to capture the very latest research and development trends in the bioenergy sector.
Keywords:
biomass, dual fluidized beds, performance, plant, polygeneration
Topic:
R&D on Biomass Conversion Technologies for Heating, Electricity and Chemicals
Subtopic:
Gasification for power, CHP and polygeneration
Event:
20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
2BV.2.10
Pages:
1033 - 1037
ISBN:
978-88-89407-54-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/20thEUBCE2012-2BV.2.10
Price:
FREE
