Energetic and Exergetic Performances of a Retrofitted, Large-Scale, Biomass-Fired CHP Coupled to a Steam-Explosion Biomass Upgrading Plant, a Biorefinery Process and a High-Temperature Heat Network

Roeland De De Meulenaere,Ale Sikkema,Julien Blondeau,Rune Brusletto,Tim Maertens,Tanja Barth

doi:10.3390/en14227720

Roeland De De Meulenaere, Ale Sikkema + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/en14227720

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Abstract

This paper aims at assessing the impact of retrofitting an existing, 730 MWe, coal-fired power plant into a biomass-fired combined heat and power (CHP) plant on its energetic and exergetic performances. A comprehensive thermodynamic model of the power plant was developed and validated against field data, resulting in less than 1% deviation between the model and the measurements for the main process parameters. The validated model was then used to predict the behaviour of the biomass CHP after retrofitting. The modelled CHP unit is coupled to a steam-explosion biomass upgrading plant, a biorefinery process, and a high-temperature heat network. 13 scenarios were studied. At constant boiler load, delivering heat to the considered heat clients can increase the total energy efficiency of the plant from 44% (electricity only) to 64%, while the total exergy efficiency decreases from 39% to 35%. A total energy efficiency of 67% could be reached by lowering the network temperature from 120∘C to 70∘C. Identifying the needed heat clients could, however, represent a limiting factor to reach such high efficiencies. For a constant power demand, increasing the boiler load from 80 to 100% in order to provide additional heat makes the total energy efficiency increase from 43% to 55%, while the total exergy efficiency decreases from 39% to 36%.

Highlights

IntroductionThe European Union recently adopted the new target of reducing their CO2 emissions by at least 55% by 2030 [1,2]
Introduction published maps and institutional affilThe European Union recently adopted the new target of reducing their CO2 emissions by at least 55% by 2030 [1,2]
The main objective of the present study is to predict the energetic and exergetic performances of the plant after its retrofit into a biomass-fired combined production of heat and power (CHP) coupled to three different heat clients: a steam-explosion plant used for the pre-treatment of the biomass, a biorefinery process extracting valuable chemical compounds from the produced condensate, and an external, large-scale heat network

Summary

Introduction

The European Union recently adopted the new target of reducing their CO2 emissions by at least 55% by 2030 [1,2] As it is currently the main source of renewable energy around the world, numerous climate change mitigation scenarios show that bioenergy will keep playing an important role in the future, sustainable energy mix [3,4,5,6]. Retrofitting coal-fired boilers to biomass combustion is an effective way of taking advantage of available assets to produce green energy. It can generally be achieved through limited adaptations of the equipment [8,9]

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