BioMatNet Item: FAIR-CT95-0291 - Indirectly fired gas turbine (IFGT) for rural electricity production from biomass

FAIR-CT95-0291
Indirectly fired gas turbine (IFGT) for rural electricity production from biomass

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Electricity : FAIR Area 1.1 - Biomass and Bioenergy Chain : Process Engineering : Solid Biofuels : Thermochemical Conversion : Wood (Lignocellulose)

	Type of Project	Shared Cost
	Contract No	FAIR-CT95-0291
	Total Cost	917,683 ECU
	EC Contribution	458,842 ECU
	Start Date	01/12/95
	Duration	24 Months

Indirectly fired gas turbine (IFGT) for rural electricity production from biomass

Background

At present the market value of wood-fuel chips produced on farmland is too low to be viable, unless value is added on the farm through electricity production. However, few small-scale, reliable technologies are available for electricity production. The use of an indirectly fired turbine is a possible solution to the problem.

Only a few reliable technologies are suitable for biomass based farm-sized CHP generation. Direct biomass fired gas turbines (IFGT) suffer from corrosion and fouling of the turbine blades. The indirectly fired gas turbine concept overcomes this problem by using a heat exchanger to transfer heat from the biomass flue gases to clean air, which is subsequently expanded in a turbine.

Objectives

The overall objective of this project is to develop a cost-effective system for on-farm electricity generation based on an indirectly heated gas turbine cycle. In this project special emphasis is placed on heat exchanger fouling and corrosion. Most of the components are available but will require some modification and development work.

Expected Results

I. Direct results

Development of a cost-effective cycle for on-farm heat and power generation based on an indirectly heated gas turbine cycle for biomass. Direct results are:

Assessment of the potential for small-scale biomass based CHP generation with the IFGT concept.
Determination of the most promising cycle for further investigation and technological development.
Economic viability of the IFGT concept depending on the energy price (biomass, electric, heat), investment cost and operating cost.
Design of a system for feeding biomass into the combustor. Design of each major component.
Design of a combustion system modified for the IFGT cycle.
Information on the suitability of various materials for the main heat exchanger with respect to fouling and corrosion.
The optimal trade-off between performance and cost of the main heat exchanger.
Design of a heat exchanger that operates at temperatures well beyond the maximum temperatures for standard heat recuperators (600°C).
Design of modified turbocharger equipment that allows operation at higher pressure ratios (4 to 1) and higher power outputs (up to 250 kW_e).
A dynamic model for the IFGT cycle.
Design of a control system for the IFGT cycle.
Design of the integrated system.
Information concerning the implications of CHP generation at various agro-industrial consumers.

II Indirect results

Development of a gas-gas heat recuperator for temperatures of up to 900°C.
Knowledge development of corrosion and fouling performance of alloys exposed to biomass flue gases at high temperatures (up to 900°C).
Collection of information concerning the market potential for small-scale biomass CHP generation in the world.

Applications

Agro-industrial consumers with clean biomass residues available requiring both power and heat, e.g. wood-processing industries, rice farms, sugar factories, etc.

Contacts

Coordinator

Harie A M KNOEF / BTG Biomass Technology Group BV NETHERLANDS

Participant