Electricity and Heat Production by Biomass
- 1 Faculty of Energy Technology, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenija
- 2 Faculty of Energy Technology, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenija
- 3 Faculty of Energy Technology, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenija
Abstract
This paper describes a cogeneration plant using wood biomass as fuel. Forests cover 56% of the surface area in Slovenia, providing plenty of waste wood to be used as an energy source. Waste wood unsuitable for the lumber industry is ground into biomass of G50 size, whose chips are on average 3 - 5 cm and up to 8 cm. Biomass is dried in a drier to reduce its moisture content to 15%. Wood biomass gasification takes place in a gasifier. Carbon monoxide and hydrogen, gasification end products, are used as fuels for a boiler and two gas engines. The boiler heat is used for wood-drying purposes. The cogeneration plant uses a 1 MW Caterpillar generator set and a 0.45 MW MAN generator set. Cooling water waste heat of both gas engines and exhaust gases are used for heating the wood drier and the nearby residential area.
- Sun, Z.G., Wang, R.Z. and Sun, W.Z. (2004) Energetic Efficiency of a Gas Engine-Driven Cooling and Heating System. Applied Thermal Engineering, 24, 941-947. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2003.10.014
- Havelsky, V. (1999) Energetic Efficiency of Cogeneration Systems for Combined Heat, Cold and Power Production. International Journal of Refrigeration, 22, 479-485. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-7007(99)00010-9
- Hufford, P.E. (1992) Absorption Chillers Improve Cogeneration Energy Efficiency. ASHRAE Journal, 46-53.
- Husain, Z., Zainal, Z.A. and Abdullah, M.Z. (2003) Analysis of Biomass-Residue-Based Cogeneration System in Palm Oil Mills. Biomass and Bioenergy, 24, 117-124. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0961-9534(02)00101-0
- Hall, D.O., Barnard, G.W. and Moss, P.A. (1982) Biomass for Energy in the Developing Countries. Pergamon Press, Oxford.
- Chester, P. (1989) Gas as a Fuel Source in CHP Systems. Energy World.
- Zakaria, I. (2002) Renewable Energy Program from National Perspective. Renewable Energy Power (SREP) Program for Palm Oil Industry, April 2002.
- http://www.eee-info.net/cms/netautor/napro4/appl/na_professional/parse.php? mlay_id=2500&mdoc_id=1000558
- Greenhouse Gas Technology Center, Technology Assessment Report: Aqueous Sludge Gasification Technologies, EPA/600/R-12/540 June 2012 Version 1.5.
- Tillman, D.A., Rossi, A.J. and Kitto, W.D. (1981) Wood Combustion: Principles, Processes and Economics. Academic Press, New York.
- Silveira, J.L., Beyene, A., Leal, E.M., Santana, J.A. and Okada, D. (2002) Thermoeconomic Analysis of a Cogeneration System of University Campus. Applied Thermal Engineering, 22, 1471-1483. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1359-4311(02)00064-9
- Sunberg, G. and Henning, D. (2002) Investments in Combined Heat and Power Plants: Influence of Fuel Price on Cost Minimized Operation. Energy Conversion and Management, 43, 639-650. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0196-8904(01)00065-6
- Lin, C.F. and Lu, D.H. (2000) Feasibility Analysis of Cogeneration and Combined Heat, Power and Cold for Tulufan City. Gas & Heat, 20, 303-304. (In Chinese)