Biodiesel engine generator

  • 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
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  • 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