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Biomass Co-Firing: A Partner in Clean Energy

Biomass has a higher hydrogen-to-carbon and oxygen-to-carbon ratio than fossil fuels, making it a renewable alternative. Co-firing biomass in existing coal power plants is an effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while increasing efficiency. While direct co-firing can interfere with plant operations, external gasification or steam generation avoids these issues and provides additional benefits such as lower costs and NOx reductions. Demand for biomass co-firing is increasing globally as a means to gradually transition existing infrastructure away from coal.

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Prabakaran Thambusamy
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89 views26 pages

Biomass Co-Firing: A Partner in Clean Energy

Biomass has a higher hydrogen-to-carbon and oxygen-to-carbon ratio than fossil fuels, making it a renewable alternative. Co-firing biomass in existing coal power plants is an effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while increasing efficiency. While direct co-firing can interfere with plant operations, external gasification or steam generation avoids these issues and provides additional benefits such as lower costs and NOx reductions. Demand for biomass co-firing is increasing globally as a means to gradually transition existing infrastructure away from coal.

Uploaded by

Prabakaran Thambusamy
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Biomass co-firing

~ a partner in clean energy

Biomass

Molar ratio
1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 O/C H/C

Biomass has higher H/C & O/C ratio than fossil fuels

S A em n ia thr nt ac S B h it ub itu ra e bi m cit tu i n e m ou in s Li ous gn er Li ite ag gn e W in bi o om od G ass C r el a lu ss lo se

Why is it important?
Biomass is a renewable energy No net greenhouse contribution to atmosphere Locally available Less fuel processing energy consumption for absence of mining or extraction

Why Co-firing is important


1. It is one of the most effective practical means for greenhouse gas reduction 2. It offers the highest electrical conversion efficiency of any biomass power options 3. Co-firing in existing coal fired boiler is among the lowest cost biomass power production options 4. It is the lowest technical risk option

Co-firing concerns
Potential cost of interference with coal plant operation may out weigh additional revenues from co-firing Risks
1. Reduced availability & flexibility 2. Increased O&M of biomass associated equipment

Technical issues
a) fuel preparation & handling b) Combustion related issues c) Ash related issues d) environmental issues

Options for Electricity generation from Biomass


Gasification + Gas engine Combustion + Steam generation + Steam turbine Co-firing in existing fossil fuel power plant

Co-firing a low cost option

Greater the biomass firing lower the net CO2 emission

Co-firing could result in some reduction in NOx emission as well

Co-firing options
1. Direct firing - feed biomass in pulverizers2. Indirect firing - Gasify biomass in a CFB gasifier and reburn it in the furnace 3. Parallel firing a) Burn biomass in an external hot gas
generator and feed the gas into the furnace b) Burn biomass in an external boiler and use that steam for heating / generation

a) Co-firing with direct firing

Problem with direct co-firing


It severely interferes with the current operation of the plant Alkali and other residues of biomass may cause fouling, corrosion etc. May affect ash properties Restriction on the amount of co-firing

External gasifier for the boilers burner

It fires the low BTU gas either in the existing boiler or in a special burner May not be acceptable in a gas fired unit Flame stability may be affected

Bio-reburn system
Biomass is gasified in an external gasifier Low BTU gas is burnt in above the burner for reduction in NOx 70% reduction in NOx expected besides CO2 credit (Sutton Station, USA)

External Steam generation


An innovative CFB boiler at Kolaghat Thermal plant Developed by GRI based on research at Dalhousie University Produces steam for potential process steam supply using waste from the plant Subcompact less expensive means for extra steam Can work in gas as well as coal fire unit Minimum effect on the main boiler

Special Features of External CFB steam/ hot gas generator


It can be used also in a gas fired boiler It can fire municipal solid waste along with biomass It has much higher conversion efficiency than gasifier Operation is familiar to the operators of the boiler plant

Added benefits of external boiler concept


It can supply additional steam to an existing plant Steam turbine can be upgraded to generate extra power using the extra steam Lowest cost of capacity addition

Uniqueness of GRIs CFB boiler


It makes CFB firing affordable in small sizes It has the potential of less expensive It is a self supported boiler

Biomass co-firing in USA rising

Europe
EU countries have a goal of 5-12% power from biomass Near term goal for biomass power generation is through co-firing For example: all available Dutch coal fired plants use about 5% co-firing

Demand for co-firing increasing worldwide. Canada absent in the picture

CONCLUSION
Co-firing of biomass in existing fossil fuel fired boiler is the fastest and least expensive means for CO2 reduction Externally co-fired CFB boiler gives an attractive practical option for cofiring with minimum impact on existing units

A small reduction in efficiency is possible

Team proposal Marketing & Financial analysis Sask power SRC USASK

TEAM 50%

NS Power

INDIA WBPDCL

Aplication for uprade fo Remote power pack

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