Measuring the performance of biomass

small scale gasification plants by

implementing mass and energy balances
S. Vakalis, D. Prando,
F. Patuzzi and M. Baratieri

Graz - 17.01.2014

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Contents
I.

Introduction and general information

II. The GAST project

III. On-site measurements
IV. Mass and energy balances
V. Discussion of results
VI. Conclusion
Measuring the performance of biomass small scale gasification plants by implementing mass and energy balances

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The concept of gasification

Thermal process
Sub-stoichiometric oxygen
Packs energy into chemical bonds
Mainly gaseous products

Pyrolysis

Gasification

Combustion
Increasing Oxygen

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Small scale biomass gasification

Small scale applications
Downdraft

Gasifier

Updraft

(ICE or GMT)

Fluidized Bed
ORC

Boilers
Stirling
200 kWe

1 MWe

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Small scale gasification downdraft

Biomass
Evaporation of moisture
Decomposition

Bio-oil
Char
Gases

Combustible gases
Combustion
Products
Gasification reactions

Producer gas
(tar)
.
Char / ash

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The GAST project

Project partners
Funded by the Autonomous
Province of South Tyrol
Small scale biomass
gasification plants

Scope
Monitoring and assessment
Optimization of performance
Environmental control
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The GAST development (May-Dec 2013)

New plants
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The GAST stats

Overall numbers
60

projects

Monitoring campaign
Gasifier

Fuel

A tech.

Wood
Chips
Wood
Chips

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authorized

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B tech.

C tech.

Pellets

Size
45 kWe
120 kWth
135 kWe
230 kWth

180 kWe
270 kWth

Type
Joos
Char
Bed

Rising
CC

operating
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Process chain
Gasification power plant (A tech.)
Pel: 45 kWel (nominal data)
Pth: 120 kWth
WOOD
CHIPS

AIR
GASIFIER
(ER0.3)

DRY
FILTER

HEAT
EXCHANGER

gas-tar CHAR gas-tar

sampling TAR sampling
Raccomandazione CTI 13 was followed
(Italian committee of thermotechnical engineers)

Pth
- syngas
cooling

Pel

ICE

Pth
- water/oil
cooling
- exhausts
cooling

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Biomass characterization
Wood Chips
45,580
%

41,023
%

5,795%

,080%
7,011%
,350%

LHV ~ 18 MJ / kg
Exch ~ 20 MJ/ kg

Ash

Moisture

(lower heating value)

Sampling

UNI EN 14778

C, H, O

UNI EN 15104

Humidity

UNI EN 147743

Ash

UNI EN 14775

Volatiles

UNI EN 15148

HHV / LHV

UNI EN 14918

(chemical exergy)

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Gas composition
Mobile micro- GC unit
Columns: PLOT-U, MOLSIEVE

Filtered gas composition

CH4
1,6%
N2
51,7%

CO
21,8%
CO2
7,8%
H2
17,1%

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Gas composition

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Char analysis

LHV 23 MJ/kg (on dry basis)

mCHAR/mBIOM 2 %

C, H, O

UNI EN 15104

Humidity

UNI EN 147743

Ash

UNI EN 14775

HHV / LHV

UNI EN 14918

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Tar sampling
Micro GC

UNI CEN TS 15439

Heated probe for sampling
Sampling bottles (isopropanol 99%)
Temperatures : + 40, -20
sampling bottles
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Tar analysis
Preliminar results on PAH compounds
Tar production (ng)

GC-MS technique
- separation DB5 MS
column (J&W
Scientific)
- detection high
resolution (R>10.000)
mass spectrometer
(GC-HRMS,
MAT95XL, Thermo
Scientific).
- addition of deuterated
internal standards.

10000,0

1000,0

100,0

10,0

1,0

0,1

Uni Bz particolato ng/assoluti

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Measuring mass
A critical aspect of the balance of plant
Measurement of mass [kg] and not volume [m3]

P m LHV
fuel

fuel

fuel

Bulk density of wood chips is

not a constant parameter
Volume of gas has significant
variations due to fluctuating
conditions (T, P) and fugacity
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Mass balance

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Measuring energy

PT = Pe + Pth
Electricity was measured directly from the meter

Heat Temp and V of water

Thermocouple (type T)
Transit-time ultrasonic flow meter
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Energy Fluxes
Fluxes (kW)
losses 39

input

losses

heat 98

input
159

198

57.2

electricity 42.8
-8,75 energy demand of auxilaries (nominal data)
need of implementation of further measurements

Distribution

198 kW (100%)

kWth

kWe
22 %

Char

2%
50electricity
%
42.8 KW
4%

losses
29%

46%

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Exergy Fluxes
Measure of the maximum amount of work that can theoretically be
exchanged by a system in thermodynamic equilibrium with its
surroundings through a ideal (reversible) process.
[Ex = h - ho - To ( s so)]
air

Exergy Flow (kW)

0.38

losses

Input
221

Chem.exergy
(char, tar)

Output gasifier
Total exergy

Physical exergy (heat)

Electricity

20.8

42.8

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Energy and Exergy Balances

For an input of 40 kg per hour of wood chips (18 MJ /kg)
electricity

42.8 kW

heat

98 kW

overall energy efficiency

~ 72 %

net electric efficiency

~ 22%

exergy efficiency (gasifier)

~ 63%

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Conclusions
Rapid development of small scale biomass gasifiers in
South Tyrol
incentives, CO2 neutral, extensive biomass utilization in the area

Gasifiers optimized for specific input parameters

also: operating conditions, size

Exergy is useful when the scope is production of work

but cogeneration plants have also other product streams

High T tar cracking

but increased heat transfer and exergy losses
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Outlook
Complete the monitoring campaign
apply the same procedure to the other plants (B, C)

Compare different technologies

on the basis of energy balance
on the basis of exergy balance

looking at the heat transfer performance

Calibrate models
b.o.p., with enhanced thermodynamic (multi stage, multi box)

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Thank you for the attention!

Danke fr Ihre Aufmerksamkeit!
S. Vakalis, D. Prando,
F. Patuzzi and M. Baratieri

Graz - 17.01.2014

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