ENK5-2002-00693 Optimisation and Design of Biomass Combustion Systems - OPTICOMB

Summary Information



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EESD (Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development) : Thermochemical Conversion

Proposal No:	ENK5-2002-00623
Date Prepared:	February 2004
Source:	European Bio-Energy Projects (EUR 20808)

Introduction

The main problems arising from biomass combustion remain the NO_xand CO emissions, especially when the fuel becomes more diverse (high peaks during transients). The continuously changing fuel composition, the non-linearity of the process, and the multivariability of the procedure makes it difficult to decrease the emissions further. Therefore, classic control strategies are no longer effective.

In order to improve the actual process control system, advanced control technologies are needed based on process models. To achieve this goal, static models have to be integrated with dynamic models.

At present, no satisfactory tools are available to describe the NO_x formation in the fuel layer and the gas phase. Therefore, an extensive study on fuel layer and gas phase NO_x formation mechanisms will be performed. The mechanisms developed will be integrated in a CFD combustion model and a static fuel layer model in order to minimise the CO and NO_x emissions.

A new grate will be designed based upon experimental work and plant data. A dynamic furnace model is being developed for biomass combustion. Special measurement techniques will be used to gather actual plant data (two plants, diverse fuels) to validate the models. The stochastic characteristics of the fuel will be revealed and used together with the dynamic model to investigate the disturbance rejection capacity of the plant.

All information will be used to develop new control concepts and to design new combustion systems from a dynamic point of view as well. These will be tested in an installation. The environmental survey will be carried out of the influence of the proposed technology, a market analysis, information dissemination and exploitation strategies.

Activities The project comprises six work packages with the following sub-tasks:

WP0: Project management
WP1: Data acquisition

1.1 FT-IR Measurements
1.2 CV sensor and system identification
1.3 Estimation black box models
WP2: Development of NOx -modules

2.1 Biomass fuel chracterisation
2.2 Characteristaion of N-release in pot furnace
2.3 CFD combustion models for biomass fuels
2.4 Reduced NOx mechanism for biomass combustion
2.5 Implementation in CFD
WP3: Dynamic modelling and stochastics
3.1 Development of static fuel layer model
3.2 Development of dynamic furnace model
3.3 Stochastics
3.4 Reduced dynamic models
WP4: Design
4.1 Implementation of fuel layer model in CFD models
4.2 Implementation of NOx modules in CFD
4.3 Verification of the overall CFD model
4.4 Case studies with CFD models
4.5 Experimental work on grate
4.6 Design of biomass furnaces
WP5: Control concepts, implementation and testing

5.1 Dev of control concepts
5.2 Implementation and testing control concepts
5.3 Implementation and testing of new grate design
WP6: Env. survey, exploitation and dissemination
6.1 Setup of an internet page
6.2 Workshops
6.3 Market analysis & Feasibility studies
6.4 Environmental Survey
6.5 Information Dissemination
6.6 Exploitation Strategies

Results

As the project started in January 2003, no detailed results are available yet. However, the following results are expected:

• Innovative control concepts for biomass combustion;
• Furnace concept for a new multi-fuel biomass combustion plant;
• Higher flexible biomass combustion systems with respect to fuel diversity;
• Increased energy efficiency and availability;
• A new multi-fuel grate system;
• A 3D-CFD combustion model for biomass fuels;
• Dissemination of the results;
• Cost/benefit analysis; and
• Final report on the dissemination and exploitation of OPTICOMB.

Impact and exploitation

• A reduction of CO and NO_x by 20-50%; and
• A potential reduction of CO₂ of 32 million tonnes per year.