FAIR-CT95-1147 Demonstration of the small bio-power plant for rural application

Contacts
Further Information



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

	Type of Project	Shared Cost
	Contract No	FAIR-CT95-1147
	Total Cost	1,647,000 ECU
	EC Contribution	862,500 ECU
	Start Date	01/09/1997
	Duration	30 Months

Demonstration of the small bio-power plant for rural application

Background

Gasification power plants are used for large-scale applications at around 100-400 MW . At present most gasifier use fossil fuel. There is a lack of application of small units of around 100 kW using biomass as a feed stock. This is due mainly to a lack of knowledge concerning some aspects of gasifier technology and the use of combustion engines with the low-caloric gases produced.

Objectives

The objective of the project is to build a 200 kW_e demonstration plant based on an existing laboratory unit for the gasification of biomass feedstock and to economically produce electricity.

Technical Approach

The gasifier will be designed to produce gas with such a low tar content that it will be possible to use it to run an engine continuously. The plant will have a continuous fuel supply system delivering shredded wood, chopped straw, animal manure and/or rape cake. The raw gas will be cleaned and cooled to 30°C with recovery of heat.

Results to Date

The design and the construction of the plant have been completed. It has been shown to produce a cool, clean and burnable gas as required for gas-motors. The engine together with the generator produced electricity for the grid. However, the energy yield of the engine is much lower than expected (20%) and the specific power yield is lower than expected.

The need to supply the motor with cool gas that is free of tar and particulate matter has an impact on most stages of the process chain. This includes the characteristics (quality) and preparation of the biomass fuels used as well as the nature of the gasifier and the design of the gas cleaning system. Hence, the main aim of the project is to achieve the quality of gas that is crucial.

The gasifier of the Bio-Power plant ARCAS

The gas cleaning system of the Bio-Power plant ARCAS

Contacts

Coordinator

• F.J. MEURER / GERMANY

Participant

• H SELZER / Bremen Inst. of Ind. Techn. and Appl. Work Sci. at the University of Bremen / GERMANY
• PROF. DR. U TODSEN / FACHHOCHSCHULE HANNOVER GERMANY
• Josef SPITZER / Joanneum Research Institute of Energy Research / AUSTRIA
• F KERKHOF / STORK COMPRIMO B.V. AMSTERDAM MEMBER OF STORK ENGINEERING AND CONTRA / NETHERLANDS
• Gerd FALKENHAIN / TFH Bochum GERMANY