BioMatNet Item: FAIR-CT97-3656 - GT BIOPOWER Small scale combined heat and power using renewable fuels

FAIR-CT97-3656
GT BIOPOWER Small scale combined heat and power using renewable fuels

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

	Type of Project	Shared Cost
	Contract No	FAIR-CT97-3656
	Total Cost	1,960,000 ECU
	EC Contribution	980,000 ECU
	Start Date	Under negotiation
	Duration	39 Months

GT BIOPOWER Small scale combined heat and power using renewable fuels

Background

Small Combined Heat and Power plants (CHP) utilising renewable fuels have environmental and other benefits, although it is not cost effective to use them today. This is mainly due to the high cost of converting biomass to electricity and heat, which may be decreased if conversion efficiency in increased. This can be achieved using a gas turbine that is more efficient than a reciprocating engine. Gas turbines have higher capital costs but lower maintenance costs, are more compact and less sensitive to the physical characteristics of fuels. They also produce higher quality exhaust heat (600-650°C). Direct-fired gas tubine systems avoid the complexity and cost of sophisticated heat exchangers and offer a strong opportunity for commercial exploitation. Use of more benign fuels should remove the need for an intermediate gasification stage with its attendent capital and operating costs.

Objectives

The objective is to develop a technically and commercially viable small (250 kW_e) CHP plant based on a gas turbine, fired directly by a pressurized biomass-fuelled combustor.

Technical Approach

The project brings together low cost turbocharger-based gas turbines and high speed brushless alternators with state-of-the-art combustor technology, and advances it with the aid of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling so that the gas stream entering the turbine will be controlled in respect of particulate deposition, erosion and corrosion (DEC) potential.

In stage 1 of the project the overall concept will be demonstrated on an existing test rig. In stage 2 this rig will be used in the development of an experimental facility of 250 kW_e to research and establish the DEC performance, environmental and control parameters for a range of biomass fuels as well as define permissable operating temperatures (and hence efficiencies). The design specification for a pre-production prototype will be established. This will have a target generating cost of 0.06 ECU/kWh and a capital cost of 1500 ECU/kW_e. The engine will be designed with an inlet temperature and pressure ratio optimised for biomass conversion, avoiding the high cost and performance penalties associated with aerospace gas turbine adaptations.

Contacts

Coordinator

J.E.T. Ltd James Engineering (Turbines) Ltd / UNITED KINGDOM

Participant