Biomass-Based, Small-Scale, Distributed Generation of Electricity and Heat Using Integrated Gas Turbine-Fuel Cell Systems

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. P. Buhre ◽  
J. Andries
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Process Development ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Fuel Gas ◽  
Gas Cleaning ◽  
Development Unit ◽  
System Designs ◽  
Process Development Unit

The use of a biomass gasifier that drives a gas turbine integrated with a fuel cell, is a potentially very attractive way to generate electricity and heat with a high efficiency and very low emissions. The application of catalytic combustion systems can decrease the emissions even further. A number of technical and non-technical developments during the last 5 years have significantly enhanced the opportunities for small-scale, distributed power generation, especially for systems based on biomass fuels. These developments are: the liberalisation of the energy market, the growing needs for electricity and heat in developing countries, the increasing demand for ‘green’ or ‘sustainable’ electricity, the near-commercial availability of maintenance-low microturbine generator packages and developments in the field of high temperature fuel cells. Preliminary system studies have shown that the integration of the different subsystems needs careful evaluation in order to realise the expected high efficiencies. To enable the assessment of the technical feasibility of potentially attractive system designs, adequate, experimentally validated knowledge with regard to biomass gasification, pressurised combustion of the fuel gas and the gas cleaning steps is required. Possible system designs based on a combination of electrochemical and thermochemical fuel conversion steps are examined and analysed with regard to efficiency, emission and costs. A system design for application on commercial scale based on present day technology will be considered. At Delft University of Technology, a biomass gasifier has been set up and a conceptual design for a pilot system, to be tested in the slipstream of the Delft 1.5 MWth process development unit, will be presented. The process development unit is described in more detail in [Hoppesteyn, et. al., 1998] and [de Jong et. al., 1998]. In this study, it has been attempted to integrate an SOFC with an existing micro gas turbine that has not especially been adjusted for the integration with the SOFC.

scholarly journals Coal-Biomass Gasification in a Pressurized Fluidized Bed Gasifier

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. de Jong ◽  
J. Andries ◽  
K. R. G. Hein
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Fluidized Bed ◽  
Process Development ◽  
Thermal Capacity ◽  
Process Conditions ◽  
Fuel Gas ◽  
Development Unit ◽  
State Behaviour ◽  
Fluidized Bed Gasifier ◽  
The Impact

In the framework of a multi-national European Joule project, experimental research and modeling concerning co-gasification of biomass and coal in a bubbling pressurized fluidized bed reactor is performed. The impact of fuel characteristics (biomass type, mixing ratio) and process conditions (pressure, temperature, gas residence time, air-fuel ratio and air-steam ratio) on the performance of the gasifier (carbon conversion, fuel gas composition, non-steady state behaviour) was studied experimentally and theoretically. Pelletized straw and miscanthus were used as biomass fuels. The process development unit has a maximum thermal capacity of 1.5 MW and was operated at pressures up to 10 bar and bed temperatures in the range of 650 °C–900 °C. The bed zone of the reactor is 2 m high with a diameter of 0.4 m and is followed by an adiabatic freeboard, approximately 4 m high with a diameter of 0.5 m. Time-averaged as well as time-dependent characteristics of the fuel gas were determined experimentally. The results will be compared with the gas turbine requirements provided by a gas turbine manufacturer, one of the partners in the project. The evaluation of the results will ultimately be used to implement and test an adequate control strategy for the pressurized fluidized bed gasifier integrated with a gas turbine combustion chamber.

Three Spool High Efficiency Small Scale Gas Turbine Concept

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matti Malkamäki ◽  
Ahti Jaatinen-Värri ◽  
Antti Uusitalo ◽  
Aki Grönman ◽  
Juha Honkatukia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Inlet Temperature ◽  
Substantial Impact ◽  
Electrical Efficiency ◽  
Partial Load ◽  
Reciprocating Engines

Decentralized electricity and heat production is a rising trend in small-scale industry. There is a tendency towards more distributed power generation. The decentralized power generation is also pushed forward by the policymakers. Reciprocating engines and gas turbines have an essential role in the global decentralized energy markets and improvements in their electrical efficiency have a substantial impact from the environmental and economic viewpoints. This paper introduces an intercooled and recuperated three stage, three-shaft gas turbine concept in 850 kW electric output range. The gas turbine is optimized for a realistic combination of the turbomachinery efficiencies, the turbine inlet temperature, the compressor specific speeds, the recuperation rate and the pressure ratio. The new gas turbine design is a natural development of the earlier two-spool gas turbine construction and it competes with the efficiencies achieved both with similar size reciprocating engines and large industrial gas turbines used in heat and power generation all over the world and manufactured in large production series. This paper presents a small-scale gas turbine process, which has a simulated electrical efficiency of 48% as well as thermal efficiency of 51% and can compete with reciprocating engines in terms of electrical efficiency at nominal and partial load conditions.

Process Development Unit (PDU) for Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) of Lignocellulosic Biomass

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 669-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Kent Hoekman ◽  
Amber Broch ◽  
Curtis Robbins ◽  
Rick Purcell ◽  
Barbara Zielinska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lignocellulosic Biomass ◽  
Process Development ◽  
Hydrothermal Carbonization ◽  
Development Unit ◽  
Process Development Unit

Small Scale Reforming Separation Systems with Nanomembrane Reactors for Direct Fuel Cell Applications

2010 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 105-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Savvas Vasileiadis ◽  
Zoe Ziaka
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Product Yield ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Membrane Reactors ◽  
Inorganic Membrane ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Reaction Products ◽  
Molten Carbonate ◽  
Fuel Gas

Our recent communication focuses on small scale and nanoscale type engineering applications of alumina inorganic membrane reactors and reactor-permeator systems for the conversion of renewable and non-renewable hydrocarbons and methane rich streams into hydrogen rich gas for direct inner application and operation of fuel cell systems. This study elaborates on new nanomembrane reactors for the steam-methane/hydrocarbon reforming and water gas shift reactions, including work in the synthesis, manufacturing, modeling and operation of such microreaction systems. The projected small scale reactors, separators and overall reaction systems are of current significance in the area of multifunctional microreactor and nanoreactor design and operation in connection with the operation of fuel cells for transportation, stationary, and portable power generation applications. An added advantage of such systems is the reactive and separative operations of the fuel cell membrane-processor which are combined to convert the hydrocarbon with steam to valuable fuel gas for continuous fuel cell operation. Moreover, the nanomembrane systems under development have the unique characteristics to perform multiple operations per unit volume, such as to utilize beneficial equilibrium shift principles in reactant conversion and product yield through the removal of permselective species (i.e., hydrogen) via the inorganic membrane out of the conversion/reaction zone. In this way, improved hydrogen and product yields can be achieved which exceed the equilibrium calculated yields. Simultaneously, the reaction products, such as synthesis gas (i.e., H2, CO and CO2) at the reactor exit can be used as fuel in mostly solid oxide and molten carbonate fuel cells. The role of the alumina nanomembrane is also in the main conversion and upgrading sections of these feedstocks in order to overcome existing heat and mass transfer limitations and increase the overall efficiency of the microreactor-fuel cell system.

Process development unit experimental studies of a split-flow modification for the post-combustion CO2capture process

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Stec ◽  
A. Tatarczuk ◽  
L. Więcław-Solny ◽  
A. Krótki ◽  
T. Spietz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Process Development ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Flow Modification ◽  
Split Flow ◽  
Development Unit ◽  
Process Development Unit
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