Alternative cogeneration systems using biomass fuels

Conference · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Proc. Am. Power Conf.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5388101

Tillmann, D A; Sale, J W; Schnorr, R F

The biomass fuels are solid, periodically wet and dirty, and therefore are most amenable to direct combustion. While gasification may be appropriate for biomass in specific cases, it carries efficiency penalties as a result of fuel-to-fuel conversion. Because biomass fuels are most useful in direct combustion systems, the most efficient cogeneration associated with such fuels is the steam turbine topping cycle. Moving from this cycle to alternative-based designs requires the acceptance of certain inefficiencies that are more severe than the combining of steam turbine topping cycles with condensing power (steam) systems. Such inefficiencies are particularly severe when the fuel is wet, and when gasification is employed. Despite such inefficiencies there may be appropriate applications of Brayton cycle cogeneration systems in the biomass fuels arena. These applications would be most likely to exist when small (e.g., <2 MW) systems are proposed, when fuel surpluses prevail, and when capital cost differentials favor a departure from the traditional biomass approach to cogeneration. Biomass cogeneration is expected to remain primarily based upon the steam turbine topping cycle. It will remain so, despite low power/process steam ratios, due to the high incremental fuel cost associated with the additional power obtained from Brayton cycle designs. Exceptions will occur, but only on an infrequent basis.

• Research Organization: Envirosphere Company, Bellevue, Washington
• OSTI ID: 5388101
• Report Number(s): CONF-820465-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Proc. Am. Power Conf.; (United States) Journal Volume: 44
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
140504 -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production &amp; Conversion-- (-1989)
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200102* -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Power Cycles
BIOMASS
BRAYTON CYCLE POWER SYSTEMS
CAPITALIZED COST
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COGENERATION
COMBUSTION
COMBUSTORS
COST
DEUS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
GASIFICATION
MACHINERY
MOISTURE
OXIDATION
POWER GENERATION
POWER SYSTEMS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
STEAM GENERATION
STEAM TURBINES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY