| Definition
Biomass - "any organic matter which is available on a renewable basis,
including agricultural crops and agricultural wastes and residues, wood and
wood wastes and residues, animal wastes, municipal wastes, and aquatic plants."
- As defined by the Energy Security Act (PL 96-294)
of 1980
Our engineers here at Powerhouse, are specialists in Biomass
power generation. We have many years of experience dealing with this difficult
fuel, and have been involved in just about every biomass power plant that
has been built in Ontario.
Overview
During the regular production of agricultural and forest products, a large
quantity of biomass is rejected as waste. Some of these biomass products can
be used to generate electricity. Two of the most common are:
- Wood waste - from sawmills, pulp mills and other forest
products;
- Bagasse - the fibrous material remaining after the extraction
of juice from sugarcane.
Wood Waste
Wood waste is a very difficult fuel to burn. In it's raw state (i.e. as it
comes from the mill), it is wet, bulky and irregular. It can contain: branches,
logs, stumps, roots, bark, dirt, rocks, and any number of other contaminants.
The moisture content of this fuel can vary depending on a number of factors:
- the type and species of the trees,
- when and how it was harvested,
- the process at the mill, and
- the transportation and storage methods.
Usually, the moisture content will fall in the 45% to 65%
range. The energy content of wood biomass fuel is usually in the range of
3,500 to 5,000 Btu/lb.
Biomass Power Plant
A typical Biomass power plant consists of the following components:
- Biomass Fuel Transportation & Delivery
- Biomass Fuel Storage
- Boiler Feed System
- Biomass Boiler
- Ash Removal System
- Combustion Gases Treatment
- Smoke Stack
- Steam Turbine/Generator
- Condenser
- Water Supply, Treatment and Boiler Feedwater
Let's take a closer look at these components, and how they're
designed. |
