The combined heat and power (CHP) biodiesel engine can use a range of liquid biofuels to generate green energy
The flue gas output is fully integrated with the on-site CO2 capture and utilisation facilities thus informing on another method of BECCS (bioenergy with carbon capture and storage)
It has 188 kW grid synchronised green electrical generation capacity, and 352 kW thermal output to supply the space heating needs of the whole facility and potentially the surrounding facilities
The biodiesel system is able to support research into a variety of liquid biofuels, facilitating the assessment of key performance indicators and thus the innovation and development of cleaner liquid fuels
The facility enables quantitative research into fuels of different origins/quality, power conversion, operational parameters, etc.
Extensive system monitoring and data logging, including with the emissions monitoring suite, provides comprehensive data for system operation
CHP wood gasifier
The flue gas output is fully integrated with the on-site CO2 capture and utilisation facilities thus informing on another method of BECCS (bioenergy with carbon capture and storage)
Gasification parameters, including system temperatures, flowrates, pressures and syngas composition, are precisely monitored to provide high-quality syngas and optimise system performance and efficiency
This system supports wood fuel development and allows for comprehensive performance assessments and characterisation of power generation from a range of biomass fuels, enabling the research and innovative development of clean power and sustainable fuels
This facility enables research into, and the development of, process parameters, syngas quality and power conversion, among others
Grate-fired biomass with WtE and BECCS
The 240 kWth moving grate fired WtE boiler is capable of burning a range of virgin biomass and waste fuels
To combine the combustion of biomass and waste derived fuels with carbon capture research, the flue gas train is fully integrated with the on-site Amine solvent-based capture plant and can provide flue glasses produced by a wide range of fuels.
Fuel capabilities include:
– Virgin biomass fuels, including woodchip and pellets
– Recycled untreated wood products (e.g. shipping pallets, cable reels)
– Biomass waste from agriculture or forestry
– Vegetable waste from the food processing industry
The combustion chamber was built according to a direct pass principle for drying, gasification and combustion of the fuel, and the subsequent removal of ash from the combustion chamber
The boiler was specifically designed for research purposes and is fitted with a wide range of ports at key locations of interest within the combustion chamber and flue gas passage to allow the detailed characterisation of these zones.
Example experimental capabilities include the following analytical probes:
– Flame imaging camera probe
– Suction pyrometer
– Gas sampling probes
– Ellipsoidal radiometer
– Particle collection probe
– Deposition probes
– Corrosion probes to fit metal coupons made from materials used for the manufacturing of specialised boiler tubes
Gas analysis can be carried out using:
– a stack gas analyser system (O2, CO2, CO, NOx, THC)
– a Gasmet FTIR
– an ETG syngas analyser (H2, CO2, CO, O2, NOx, CmHn)
– a Spectro Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) analyser for online simultaneous multi metal emissions detection (e.g. K, Na, Hg, Cr, Cd, Pb, V, Zn, etc)
High combustion temperatures, as well as a long residence time of the combustion gases, guarantee a clean burning process. Furthermore, particulate removal is achieved in two distinct steps using a multi cyclone followed by an electrostatic precipitator (ESP) to adhere to the strict emissions limits of the Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD)
Organic Rankine Cycle
The Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) is a thermodynamic power cycle which uses an organic fluid to convert heat into electricity
Similar to the commonly-used steam Rankine cycle, the working fluid in the ORC is heated to produce high pressure gas, which is discharged through a turbine expander in order to produce mechanical work and generate electricity
A range of working fluids can be tested on site. The current working fluid we’ve chosen is well suited for low-temperature waste heat recovery using water even as low as 70°C to generate electrical output
Our ORC uses heat from the 240kW WtE boiler and is able to produce 10 kW net electrical output. It is a mobile and plug and play system, with the ability to utilise a range of heat sources.
ORC applications can include:
– Waste heat on exhaust stacks, including from industrial processes
– Internal combustion engine exhaust or jacket cooling water
– Renewable sources such as solar collectors or geothermal
– Additional heat recovery is possible by connecting the cold loop of the ORC to low temperature heating or drying systems
The chosen organic fluid also has a favourable environmental performance, being non-toxic, non-flammable and having a very low GHG potential
