Development of wood as an alternative fuel for large power-generating systems. Part II. Selection of an oil- or gas-fired boiler system for retrofit. Final report

Technical Report · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5617929· OSTI ID:5617929

Hamrick, J. T.

Four boiler systems which use oil as a fuel have been studied to determine the feasibility of retrofitting them to burn wood as an alternative fuel for power plants. It was concluded that direct burning of wood in one of the systems provides an economical alternative and that conversion of the three remaining boilers to operation in a waste heat mode in a combined cycle with wood burning-gas turbines offered the greatest economy of operation. Boiler system no. 1 of the Eugene, Oregon Water and Electric Board was chosen as the most viable candidate for retrofitting. An evaluation of that system was made and a preliminary retrofit design was developed. The retrofit system employs six wood-burning gas turbines. The exhaust gases from the turbines are passed through the boiler providing enough heat to operate at 75% of boiler capacity. The overall results are as follows: the net system output as retrofitted is 22,755 kw compared to current maximum output of 7500 kw; the overall efficiency of the combined system based on electrical output of the generators and higher heating value of the wood feed is 32.5%; the estimated cost of the system is $7,966,235 or $352 per installed kw not including land; the approximate time required for installation of the system is 18 months; and based upon use of Douglas fir and hemlock bark and wood mixture with heating value of 9840 Btu/lb and 40% moisture, 504 tons of wood waste per day will be required.

• Research Organization: Aerospace Research Corp., Roanoke, VA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-78ET20058
• OSTI ID: 5617929
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET/20058-T2-Pt.2; ON: DE82002033
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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