Experiences of biomass co co-firing firing in Finland

Heikki Oravainen VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland

IEA Biomass Combustion and Cofiring Workshop on 21 October 2008 in The Netherlands

VTT TECHNICAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF FINLAND

Cofiring of biofuel with coal

The basic idea is the reduction of CO2 emissions The investments when introducing biofuel to existing coal boilers remain small compared to a new boiler using only biofuels The amount of available biomass is locally restricted and with separate energy production from biomass, the efficiency for energy production is usually p y lower than with large g coal boilers There can be changes in the availability of biofuels and with cofiring it is possible to reduce the need for storage of biofuels In cofiring, the choice of fuel can be decided on the basis of the prevailing price level more flexibly than when using a single fuel The emissions of CO2, SO2 and NOx can be reduced

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Innovative concept for direct co-firing

Co-firing biofuel in existing pulverised coal fired boilers by using burner technology sets high demands for biofuel grinding technology. The critical factor is the particle size to ensure proper combustion efficiency and stable flame. The maximum particle size depends on boiler conditions like particle residence time and furnace temperature distribution. There are several opinions on maximum particle size varying from one to a few millimeters. millimeters To grind biomass sufficiently not only simple crushing process but also very complex and expensive micro milling system is needed. In addition, micro milling leads to very strict safety precautions because of dust explosion risk and will further increase the costs.

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Innovative concept for direct co-firing

According to F-ENPRIMA Engineerings and Fortums experience from full-scale co-firing tests, the latter of the grinding stages is not needed, if suitable burners like the one designed and patented by F t Fortum are used. d In such case, particle size distribution of biomass can be as large as: 100 % < 8 mm and 30-40 % < 1 mm. Investment costs of 50 MW biofuel pretreatment (milling), feeding and burning devices are in the range of 800 000 ! to 1,6 milj. ! depending on the moisture o o u content o of the fuel. o u Investment costs are lowest for dry wood pellets having high energy density. Costs are increasing when wet wood material; bark, saw dust, logging residue etc. etc are utilised to substitute coal. coal

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F-Enprima (former Fortum) Engineerings co-firing concept for direct co-firing co firing of biomass and coal
Savolainen, K., Nyberg, K. and Dernjatin, P., Co-firing biomass in the pulverised fuel boiler. BIOENERGY2003, International Nordic Bioenergy Conference, Jyvskyl, Finland, From 2nd to 5th September 2003.

Receiving station

Magneticroll

RI-BIO

Crusher for biomass

RI-JET RI JET RI-JET

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Cofiring of biofuel with coal

Several details and factors should be considered before modifying an existing boiler for cofiring: characteristics of the biofuel (particle size, size ash melting and softening tendency, chlorine content, calorific value, required residence time in the furnace, ...) adequate availability of the biofuel(s) at a reasonable, cost-effective distance effect on slagging, fouling, life-time effect on deposit formation tendency on heat transfer surfaces effect on air and flue gas flow rates that may increase effect on emissions and efficiency cofiring probably decreases maximum boiler output milling and air/fuel feeding capacities may limit biofuel fraction in cofiring optimum design for any certain power plant is generally site-specific and may require a lot of engineering and design overall technical performance

Cofiring examples from Finland

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Naantali 315 MWth p plant in in Finland:

co-firing of sawdust and coal coal and sawdust are blended in the coal yard and the mixture is fed into the boiler through coal mills sawdusts sawdust s moisture, moisture up to 65 %, % do not cause any problems, problems as the wood fraction in fuel blend wont exceed 4 % on energy basis milling capacity limits wood fraction in fuel blend

Blending of coal and sawdust in the coal yard of Naantali power plant plant.

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Cofiring of wood in existing pulverised coal boilers, Vaskiluoto Power Station, Vaasa
Saw dust + coal into same mill

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Fluidised Bed Combustion

O Alholmens Kraft Ab, Oy Ab Pietarsaari, Pietarsaari * PEAT AND COAL Finland
* BIOFUELS: Bark, wood chips, p logging gg g residue

Energy Globe 2002 Stig Nickull

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Alholmens Kraft: CFB Technology

The design of the plant allows great fuel flexibility, the boiler is able to burn all mixtures of f wood d and d coal lf from 100 % wood dt to 100 % coal. Consumes a truck load of peat in 7 minutes Alholmens Alh l K Kraft, ft Pietarsaari, Finland Steam 550 MWth 194/179 kg/s 165/40 bar 545/545 C Fuels Wood, peat, coal Start-up Start up 2001

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CFB Technology
Utilisation of Fuels

Biomass 45 %

Annual consumption of fuels 3,5 TWh

Boiler Peat 45 %
Heavy fuel oil and coal

10 %

Production

560 GWh Heat 1300 GWh Electricity

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Alholmens Kraft: Fuel Feeding

Biofuel consumption 1000 m3/h Coal consumption 110 m3/h Four independent feeding lines Common feeding lines for both fuels 11 feeding gp points

Energy Globe 2002 Stig Nickull

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Rauhalahti power plant in Jyvskyl

The power plant generates electrical power, process steam for a paper mill and district heat for the city of Jyvskyl. Rauhalahti power plant was originally designed for pulverised peat and coal. It was converted to bubbling fluidised bed boiler (295 MWth) in 1993 and the use of biomass fuels was started. The main fuels are currently peat, by-products from sawmills and forest residues (wood chips stumps) chips, stumps). Also some coal and reed canary grass are used. used Wood fuel feeding system was modified in 2001.
The share of forest fuels, forest chips and stumps has been increasing significantly.

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The plant generates electrical power (20 MW) and district heat (50 MW). MW) The main boiler is 72 MWth BFB. The main fuels are currently peat, forest residues, byproducts from forest industry and d reed d canary grass. Nowadays there is a separate feeding system for reed canary grass.

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Vaskiluodon Voima Oy, Seinjoki power plant

The plant generates electrical power (125 MW) and district heat (100 MW) MW). The main boiler is 300 MWth CFB. The main fuels are currently peat, forest residues and reed canary grass. There is no need for separate sulphur and NOx removal (when peat is used).

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Kymijrvi power plant in Lahti

Kymijrvi power plant has operated successfully biomass and waste derived fuel fired gasifier from the beginning of 1998. The PC boiler is a BensonBenson type once-through boiler and the plant produces electric power (167 MW) and district heat (240 MW) to the Lahti city. The boiler uses 1850 GWh/a (270.000 tons/a) of coal and about 100 GWh/a natural gas.
350 MW

540 C/170 bar

Biomas
Processing

300 GWh/a -15 % fuel input

CO 2 Reduction 10 %

Power * 600 GWh/a District Heat * 1000 GWh/a 50 MW Gasifier

Pulverized coal flames

Gas flame

Bottom ash

1850 GWh/a -80 % Coal Natural Gas 100 GWh/a -5 %

Fly y ash

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Additional information about the Lahti gasifier

Plant Gasifier manufacturer Type of technology Capacity of the gasifier Annual availability of the gasifier Feedstocks Commissioning g Investment

Kymijrvi CHP plant, Lahti, Finland Foster Wheeler Energia Oy, Finland atmospheric pressure CFB gasifier, no gas clenaing, gas co-fired in PC boiler 60 MWth ( 40 40-90 90 MWth depending on fuel) 96.1...99.3 % (1998-2001) Wood chips, wood waste, saw dust, shavings, demolition wood, SRF (Solid Recovered Fuel), plastic waste in the end of 1997 11.4 M! (EU Thermie 3 M!)