Biomass Combined Heat And Power Plants Research Articles

Study of the differences in collection scope of raw materials of biomass CHP plants caused by regional factors

Combined heat and power (CHP) plants fueled by biomass can collect and utilize waste straw resources in a productive way. This paper considers the impact of regional factors on biomass energy potential and the energy needs of the population, so as to study the differences in construction of biomass CHP plants and the collection scope of raw materials, and proposes evaluating suitability for biomass energy development based on scope of resource collection. Taking five counties in China as its study areas, this paper assesses biomass energy potential. A topology system of biomass CHP plants has been reasonably established in different counties through ArcGIS, the required installed capacity has been calculated according to the number of persons served by such plants. Finally, the collection length and corresponding value range of raw materials of CHP plants along roads has been obtained based on biomass energy potential and energy demand. The result shows that the differences in area, straw yield and biomass fuelization rate depending on regions have a great impact on biomass energy potential, while the residue-to-product ratio of straw and biomass calorific value have less of an impact. When the biomass energy per capita of a region reaches 9.75GJ/person, it is suitable for biomass energy development. The installed capacity in the biomass CHP plant system of each study area is mostly within the scope of 3–59 MW, and the collection length of corresponding biomass resources of such plants along roads is mostly within the scope of 5.09–25.23 km.

SPECIFICITY OF TRANSACTION COSTS AT BIOENERGY PRODUCERS – A CASE STUDY

One of the nexus in the modern energy sector are bioenergy companies. To generate green electricity, economic operators trade in the market, incurring transaction costs. The main objective of the paper is to identify and describe the transaction costs using a case study of biomass combined heat and power plant (CHP). The company used for the case study was Polmos Żyrardów. A diagnostic survey with a questionnaire was carried out. It was found that information procurement and negotiation costs are the most significant in the transaction cost structure of a biomass CHP plant. The importance of access to information about biomass suppliers in the region and the company›s closest surroundings was highlighted the most. This factor significantly increases the time-consuming activities that make up the process of acquiring information about a potential business partner. The aspect of the formalisation of the contract and the building of mutual trust between the participants in the transaction were emphasised as elements to minimise the uncertainty and opportunism of the partners. It is argued that the level of transaction costs influences decision-making within the organisation, also translating into the efficiency of the entire biomass CHP area. Conscious management of energy resources and care for the environment has made Polmos Żyrardów self-sufficient in energy. In light of the challenges of the energy transition, bioenergy installations make an important contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building circular bioeconomy.

The effect of biomass raw material collection distance on energy surplus factor.

The collection radius of biomass raw materials is an important factor affecting the volume of raw materials for energy utilization. At present, it is usually studied based on a single biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plant. However, as the heat transfer threshold of biomass CHP plant is limited, it is necessary to consider the optimal collection radius and biomass raw material allocation under the distribution mode of multiple power plants to improve the overall utilization rate of raw materials. Biomass raw material collection distance threshold (BCDT) refers to the maximum road length between the resource point (that allows the transportation of raw materials to the biomass CHP plant) and the biomass CHP plant. Under the mode of multi-power plant planning, the greater the BCDT is, the more destinations there will be for raw materials to be transported to from the same resource point, and the more flexible the transportation plans and allocation of transportation volumes will be. This also means more raw materials can be ultimately used for energy utilization, which leads to higher transportation cost. Therefore, determining the appropriate BCDT plays a key role in the unified planning of biomass raw materials. Based on the limitation of heat transfer threshold, this paper carries out multi-power plant planning with Fuxin City as the research object. Based on such planning, ArcGIS is used to generate biomass raw material planning schemes with different BCDTs. Then the transportation cost and energy surplus factor (ratio of renewable resource potential to energy demand) of each scheme are calculated and compared. The results show that there is a positive correlation between BCDT and the energy surplus factor. With the increase of BCDT, the growth rate of the energy surplus factor gradually becomes slower. The study also allows to set the utilization threshold of biomass energy utilization capacity and obtain the corresponding BCDT. In order to achieve a higher energy surplus factor, it is recommended that 40km be used as the BCDT when carrying out uniform planning for biomass raw materials. At this time, the utilization of biomass energy utilization capacity is 75%, which can achieve a high degree of energy self-sufficiency and ensure its economic competitiveness.

A techno-economic assessment of CO2 capture in biomass and waste-fired combined heat and power plants – A Swedish case study

The need to reduce global CO2 emissions is urgent and might be facilitated by carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. Sweden has a goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2045. Negative emissions and bio-CCS (BECCS) have been proposed as important strategies to reach this target at the lowest cost. The Swedish district heating sector constitutes a large potential for BECCS, with biogenic point sources of CO2 in the form of combined heat and power (CHP) plants that burn biomass residues from the forest industry. This study analyzes the potential of CO2 capture in 110 existing Swedish biomass or waste-fired CHP plants. Process models of CHP steam cycles give the impacts of absorption-based CCS on heat and electricity production, while a district heating system unit commitment model gives the impact on plant operation and the potential for CO2 capture. The results provide a cost for carbon capture and transport to the nearest harbor by truck: up to 19.3 MtCO2/year could be captured at a cost in the range of 45–125 €/tCO2, corresponding to around 40% of the total fossil fuel-based Swedish CO2 emissions. This would be sufficient to meet a proposed target of 3–10 Mt/year of BECCS by 2045.

GIS-based evaluation of solar and biomass perspectives – Case study of China regions

The spatial distribution of biomass resources is not uniform. At present, the zoning of biomass energy development suitability is primarily based on resource potential, whereas energy demand is ignored as an important factor affecting the degree of local energy self-sufficiency. Under the constraints of high transportation costs, solar energy with low geographical constraints can be a supplementary energy source for biomass despite its instability. Based on the energy utilization potential of solar energy and biomass resources, this paper evaluates the energy surplus factor (ratio of renewable resource potential to energy demand) of each city in the study area, takes meeting the specific energy surplus factor as the construction prerequisites of biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plants, calculates the biomass resource utilization rate and energy surplus factor in the study area under different conditions, and provides zoning suggestions and data reference for the unified planning of biomass CHP plants. The minimum energy surplus factor that is suitable for the development of biomass energy is set as the construction threshold of biomass CHP plants (The construction threshold is the minimum condition for the construction of biomass CHP plants. Only areas where the energy surplus factor reaches the preset construction threshold are allowed to build biomass CHP plants). The results show that the construction threshold is negatively correlated with the utilization rate of biomass resources. When the construction threshold is less than 1.4, the utilization rate of biomass resources decreases rapidly with the increase of the construction threshold; when the construction threshold is greater than 1.4, the utilization rate of biomass resources decreases slowly and tends to be flat. It is suggested that biomass resources should be developed in different regions and in stages, and priority should be given to developing areas with an energy surplus factor greater than 1.4. Areas with an energy surplus factor of 0.3–1.4 are considered secondary development areas, and areas with an energy surplus factor of less than 0.3 are not recommended for development; these can meet 31% and 59% of the total energy demand and reduce 50319380 tons and 180524400 tons carbon emissions so that the limited construction cost can meet higher energy demand and biomass resource utilization.

Economic and Environmental Potential of Large-Scale Renewable Synthetic Jet Fuel Production through Integration into a Biomass CHP Plant in Sweden

The potential of bio-electro-jet fuel (BEJF) production with integration into an existing biomass-based combined heat and power (CHP) facility was investigated. The BEJF is produced via Fischer–Tropsch (F–T) synthesis from biogenic CO2 and H2 obtained by water electrolysis. Techno-economic (TEA)- and life. cycle (LCA)- assessments were performed to evaluate the production cost and environmental impact of the BEJF production route. The BEJF mass fraction reached 40% of the total F–T crude produced. A reduction of 78% in heating demands was achieved through energy integration, leading to an increase in the thermal efficiency by up to 39%, based on the F–T crude. The total production cost of BEJF was in the range of EUR 1.6–2.5/liter (EUR 169–250/MWh). The GWP of the BEJF was estimated to be 19 g CO2-eq per MJ BEJF. The reduction potential in GWP in contrast to the fossil jet baseline fuel varied from 44% to more than 86%. The findings of this study underline the potential of BEJF as a resource-efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally benign alternative for the aviation sector. The outcome is expected to be applicable to different geographical locations or industrial networks when the identified influencing factors are met.

CO2 Storage in Logging Residue Products with Analysis of Energy Production Scenarios

Abstract Woody logging residues produced by logging activities are currently an underutilised resource that is mainly burned for energy production or left in the forest to decay, thus releasing CO2 into the atmosphere. This resource could be used to manufacture long-lasting products and store a significant amount of CO2, promoting CO2 valorisation in rural areas. In this study, potential use for logging residues is proposed – the production of low-density wood fibreboard insulation panels. The new material’s potential properties, manufacturing method and combined heat and power (CHP) plant parameters were proposed. The potential climate benefits of the new product were analysed using various biogenic carbon accounting methods. As energy production for manufacturing can be a significant source of emissions, possible energy production scenarios were analysed for manufacturing the product. However, an economically and environmentally viable energy production scenario should be chosen. By conducting a multi-criteria analysis, three possible energy production scenarios were analysed – wood biomass CHP plant, a natural gas CHP plant and a standalone wood biomass combustion plant combined with Solar photo-voltaic (PV) panels. The scenarios were analysed in terms of technological, economic, and environmental performance to determine the best strategy in this case.

Impact of a cold-village merger plan on the Investment Cost and Energy Utilization Ratio of Biomass Combined Heat and Power Plants

China is rapidly developing in terms of urbanization; thus, to address the decline in agriculture caused by the outflow of village populations, it is imperative that a village merger plan be implemented. Such a plan would be beneficial in terms of re-evaluating the scale and quantity of biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plants and how these feature in the village merger planning process; it would also assist in researching the investment costs and energy utilization ratios of biomass CHP plants, optimizing the energy consumption structure, and promoting sustainable development processes. By undertaking a typical case study, we obtain a series of universal strategies. Predicting the extent of urbanization is useful in determining village abandonment—in which populations from relocated villages redistribute to other villages—while new towns are simultaneously built in sparsely populated north-western areas for relocated individuals. By comparing analysed data pertaining to the construction of 15 biomass CHP plants before the village merger plan and those pertaining to the centralized construction of a single biomass CHP plant after the village merger plan, we find that investing in a single, centralized biomass CHP plant saves RMB 649 million, compared to investing in 15 decentralized plants. Additionally, by building a single plant, 85,983.51 tons of straw can be saved annually, which represents a value of RMB 21.4959 million.

Steam storage systems for flexible biomass CHP plants - Evaluation and initial model based calculation

Within the present study a novel concept for the demand-oriented power generation of a solid-biomass fueled combined heat and power (CHP) plant is investigated. The integration of a novel steam storage system into the plants process enables a decoupling of the steam (boiler) and the power generation (steam turbine). By buffering the steam, the power output of the turbine can be adjusted without changing the rated thermal capacity of the plant. The storage system consist of combination of steam accumulator and concrete storage. An initial model based simulation study is performed to identify the fundamental behavior of this system, integrated in a biomass CHP plant. The operation principle has proved their technical feasibility and seems to be applicable at a commercial scale. According to the modelling results flexible short term power generation in a time range from 15 min to several hours is applicable. A load-range of almost the plant's rated capacity can be achieved. The properties of the proposed concept are competitive to available energy storage systems.

Usage of biomass CHP for balancing of power grid in Ukraine

The article contains the first considerations of the problematic of Ukrainian grid balancing issues raised by a rapid increase of RES share in total electricity supply. The provision of balancing electricity with accent on biomass combined heat and power plants (CHP) usage is considered. Three technical concepts are proposed for engaging of existing and planned biomass CHP into balancing operation primary operating in baseload regimes, namely – greenfield biomass thermal power plant (TPP) and CHP working primary in baseload regimes and provide balancing electricity when needed (with and without steam accumulation). It is shown that there are no principle technical limitations for biomass CHP/TPP usage for grid balancing. The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of balancing electricity for proposed concepts are calculated and compared with the reference technology proposed by the national grid operator (gas-piston engines and/or gas turbine). According to the calculations performed the LCOE (EUR/MWh) of balancing electricity could be 77-88 EUR/MWh for biomass CHP primary operating in baseload and 216 EUR/MWh for greenfield biomass TPP against 206 EUR/MWh for gas-piston/gas-turbine for applied assumptions, prices and tariffs.

Feasibility of thermal energy storage integration into biomass chp-based district heating system

Despite the advancements in thermal energy storage (TES) systems for combined heat and power plants (CHP) operation, these technologies are not implemented in CHP-based district heating (DH) systems in some of the countries where DH systems are still in development. An analysis of economic and environmental benefits that can be reaped as a result of the TES integration within the DH system is required to successfully promote TES as a technology for the DH system improvement. An actual large-scale biomass CHP-based DH system is explored as a case study. Scenarios for two types of support policies (feed-in premium electricity produced by biomass CHP and high-efficiency biomass CHP) were examined by varying the size of TES. The aim of the research was to evaluate the impact of the biomass CHP support policy on TES integration feasibility. Calculations show that TES installation combined with biomass CHP is less feasible when all of the electricity produced by biomass CHP is subsidised.

Effects of population density of a village and town system on the transportation cost for a biomass combined heat and power plant

Combined heat and power (CHP) generation can meet winter heating demands. Therefore, biomass CHP plants are more suitable for the development of biomass energy in village and town systems in cold regions. Transportation cost is one of the factors that determine operating costs. In this study, potential biomass energy is estimated based on the distribution of various types of crops. The locations and service areas of biomass CHP plants are determined using geographic information system analysis tools based on population distribution and energy demand data. Equations that contain multiple interference factors are used to calculate the raw material supply area and transportation cost for a biomass CHP plant to generate an optimal transportation route within a region. The analysis results show that biomass CHP plants are only suitable for village and town systems with a relatively low population density (PD). The curve of the supply area versus the PD of the village and town system (PDVTS) has an inverse-S shape. The transportation cost increases exponentially as the PDVTS increases. Biomass CHP plants can achieve higher efficiency in transportation costs when built in areas with a PDVTS ≤ 65 people/km2.

Integration of heat storage system into district heating networks fed by a biomass CHP plant

Biomass Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants connected to district heating networks (DHN) are recognized as a very good opportunity to increase the share of renewable sources into energy systems. However, as CHP plants are not optimized for electricity production, their operation is profitable only if a sufficient heat demand is available throughout the year. On the other hand, these plants often work for baseline operations and back-up boilers are used to supply the peak demand. To extend the use of the CHP plants and reduce costs, conventional fuel use and emissions, it is proposed to study the feasibility of using the DHN itself or additional high temperature heat storage as retrofit of an existing CHP plant.This work is based on a simple and effective methodology that provides accurate estimations of economic, environmental and energetic performances of CHP plants connected to district heating networks. The focus is performed on the integration of the heat storage as retrofit of existing DHN considering the local policies.The DHN of the University in Liège (Belgium) is used as an application framework to demonstrate the effectiveness of the selected approach. The potential energy, pollutant emissions savings and resulting energy costs are estimated and the current policy limitations will be discussed.

A greenhouse gas abatement framework for investment in district heating

Biomass resources could be used in the Northeastern U.S. in centralized district heating networks supplied by combined heat and power (CHP) plants to reduce consumption of petroleum resources (fuel oil), generate renewable electricity, and cost-effectively reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when supplying buildings with space and water heating. Alternatively, the CHP plants could be powered by natural gas, which would reduce GHG emissions relative to conventional, individual heating solutions owing to the improved efficiency of cogeneration. To assess the potential for investment in these technologies, hourly heat load demand in residential and commercial buildings in all New England and New York state towns (populations > 5000) was estimated and used to optimize the energy efficiency of district heating networks using MODEST software. All of the 116 studied locations without access to natural gas distribution infrastructure showed negative carbon abatement costs, the majority between −$250 and −$38 per Mg CO2 equivalents (eq.), when biomass-fed district heating was implemented due to significantly reduced operational costs and life cycle GHG emissions. Similarly, almost all (465 out of 467) locations connected to the natural gas grid were found to have negative GHG abatement costs, ranging from −$4500 to −$400 per Mg CO2 eq., demonstrating strong economic feasibility for district heating. Natural has an economic advantage over biomass in district heating due to its combined cycle CHP plants being able to generate more electricity per heat unit compared to biomass CHP plants and its lower O&M costs. District heating in all locations could abate 2.6 billion Mg of CO2 eq. at an economic surplus over 30 ears of continuous operation. Using a framework that integrated spatial tools, optimization, LCA, and cost evaluation, this study uniquely identified promising locations in the U.S. where district heating could be both environmentally and economically beneficial. This framework can be applied to other global regions that have significant space heating needs, for CHP implementation, and as a tool for identifying alternative building energy investments, such as improved insulation or individual space heating solutions, which in some cases could yield higher GHG reductions per dollar.

Optimized Integration of Heat Storage Into District Heating Networks Fed By a Biomass CHP Plant

Biomass Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants connected to district heating networks (DHN) are recognized as a very good opportunity to increase the share of renewable sources into energy systems. However, as CHP plants are not optimized for electricity production, their operation is profitable only if a sufficient heat demand is available throughout the year. On the other hand, these plants often work for baseline operation and back-up boilers are used to supply the peak demand. To extend the use of the CHP plants and reduce costs, conventional fuel use and emissions, it is proposed to study the feasibility of using additional high temperature heat storage as retrofit of an existing CHP plant.This work is based on a simple and effective methodology that provides accurate estimations of economic, environmental and energetic performances of CHP plants connected to district heating networks. The DHN of the University in Liège (Belgium) is used as an application framework to demonstrate the effectiveness of the selected approach. The potential energy, pollutant emissions savings and resulting energy costs are estimated and the current policy limitations will be discussed.

Effects of the distribution density of a biomass combined heat and power plant network on heat utilisation efficiency in village–town systems

The building of biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plants is an effective means of developing biomass energy because they can satisfy demands for winter heating and electricity consumption. The purpose of this study was to analyse the effect of the distribution density of a biomass CHP plant network on heat utilisation efficiency in a village–town system. The distribution density is determined based on the heat transmission threshold, and the heat utilisation efficiency is determined based on the heat demand distribution, heat output efficiency, and heat transmission loss. The objective of this study was to ascertain the optimal value for the heat transmission threshold using a multi-scheme comparison based on an analysis of these factors. To this end, a model of a biomass CHP plant network was built using geographic information system tools to simulate and generate three planning schemes with different heat transmission thresholds (6, 8, and 10 km) according to the heat demand distribution. The heat utilisation efficiencies of these planning schemes were then compared by calculating the gross power, heat output efficiency, and heat transmission loss of the biomass CHP plant for each scenario. This multi-scheme comparison yielded the following results: when the heat transmission threshold was low, the distribution density of the biomass CHP plant network was high and the biomass CHP plants tended to be relatively small. In contrast, when the heat transmission threshold was high, the distribution density of the network was low and the biomass CHP plants tended to be relatively large. When the heat transmission threshold was 8 km, the distribution density of the biomass CHP plant network was optimised for efficient heat utilisation. To promote the development of renewable energy sources, a planning scheme for a biomass CHP plant network that maximises heat utilisation efficiency can be obtained using the optimal heat transmission threshold and the nonlinearity coefficient for local roads.

Approaches for Dispatchable Biomass Plants with Particular Focus on Steam Storage Devices

AbstractAn increasing share of fluctuating energy generation leads to new challenges in power grids. In addition, the demand for flexible power plants is growing. Solid biomass‐fueled combined heat and power (CHP) plants are able to get modified into dispatchable power plants. Boundaries for this operation mode are summarized and several measures to achieve a flexible power generation in biomass CHP plants are concluded. The integration of a high‐temperature storage system for buffering the plants' steam seems to be the most promising, however, the least investigated option. The tasks and necessary features of such storage systems were investigated and an overview of available technologies and systems for the storage of steam is given.

A feasibility and performance assessment of a low temperature district heating system – A North Japanese case study

This paper presents a high spatial resolution based method for design and operation of a low temperature district heating system and evaluates its feasibility and energy and exergy performance through case comparison. Selected case area is existing district in North Japan. The district heating system design and operation follows a bottom-up approach. The study scope takes into account the demand side, distribution and supply side where biomass CHP (combined heat and power) plant is selected as main supply source. Radiating floor heating system model is used to estimate building temperature requirement. Results indicate that low temperature heating is infeasible for non-residential buildings in North Japan at high loads. Improving building insulation decreases heating quality demand considerably. Low temperature district heating performs better than medium temperature, especially in terms of exergy efficiency, however requires a bit larger pipe diameter indicating cost trade-off between installation and operation cost. Implementing cascade configuration based on quality level of building energy demand results in highest system performance. Lower network temperature provides least net primary energy consumption primarily due to higher electricity generation of CHP plant. This transcends to favourable system exergy efficiency of low temperature operation due to high quality of electricity, increasing the exergy of the product.

Small scale biomass CHP: Techno-economic performance of steam vs gas turbines with bottoming ORC

Small scale Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants present lower electric efficiency in comparison to large scale ones, and this is particularly valid when biomass fuels are used. In most cases, the use of both heat and electricity to serve on site energy demand is a key to achieve acceptable global energy efficiency and investment profitability. However, the heat demand follows a typical daily and seasonal pattern and it is influenced by climatic conditions. During low heat demand periods, a lot of heat produced by the CHP plant is discharged. In order to increase the electric conversion efficiency of small scale biomass CHP plants, a bottoming ORC system can be coupled to the cycle, however this decreases the temperature and quantity of cogenerated heat available to the load. In this perspective, the paper proposes a thermo-economic analysis of small scale CHP plants based on steam turbine (ST) or externally fired micro gas turbine (EFGT) coupled to different typologies of bottoming Organic Rankine Cycles (ORC). The research assesses the influence of the thermal energy demand and CHP plant operational strategies on the global energy efficiency and profitability of the proposed cogeneration options, taking into account the part load efficiency and the heat to electricity ratio flexibility that could be achieved through a switch on-off of the bottoming ORC. The thermodynamic cycles and their part load efficiency are modeled by Gate-Cycle (Brayton cycles) and Cycle-Tempo (Rankine cycles). The research explores the profitability of bottoming ORC in view of the higher efficiency and electricity generation revenues but higher costs and reduced heat available for cogeneration in the case of bottoming ORC. The results indicate the optimal CHP technology and configuration for each energy demand segment and the relative key technical and economic factors in the Italian legislative framework.

Small scale biomass CHP plant: An assessment for an animal feed industry

This paper describes a technical, economic and exergoeconomic assessment to verify the feasibility of a combined heat and power (CHP) plant implementation in an animal feed industry to attend its electric power demands. A small-scale Rankine cycle was defined for the CHP plant. Plant operation was simulated at steady state condition, taking into account heat and electric power demands under two considerations: electric power selling to the grid and burning wood chips or charcoal as fuel. In order to get the feasibility assessment, a cash flow was elaborated. The thermoeconomic structural theory was applied for the exergoeconomic assessment. The results show that the feasibility of the CHP plant implementation was achieved by using charcoal as fuel. The consideration of electric power selling to the grid was shown to be the most interesting.