F R A U N H O F E R I N S T I T U T E F O R F A C T O R Y O P E R AT I O N A N D A U T O M AT I O N I F F M A G D E B U R G

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BIOMASS COGENERATION PLANTS

1 ORC module evaporator.

2 Biomass heating plant in Templin.

The Motivation

Increased utilization of the capacity of its

existing drying kilns and the addition of a

high temperature drying chamber increased

Holzindustrie Tem plin GmbH’s heat require-

ments. It wanted to generate heat from

re newable energies and envisioned a green

plant solution utilizing heat recovered from

untreated timber. Independence from fossi l

fuel prices would create a supply solu-

tion with stable costs. Process heat could

be provided, e.g. to dry timber, and the

simultaneous production of power would

generate further returns from revenue from

Renewable Energy Act tariffs.

The Objective

The objective was to supply needed heat by

burning untreated timber effi ciently and

with low emissions.

Timber processing residues, e.g. bark,

wood chips, shavings and sawdust, were

to be used. Part of the heat would be con-

verted into power by cogeneration employ-

ing an or ga nic Rankine cycle (ORC). The

ORC attains higher effi ciencies than the

con ventional Clausius-Rankine cycle (steam

power) and cuts plant operating costs since

it neither requires fresh water or chemicals

for water treatment nor produces waste-

water.

The Principle

A biomass-fi red cogeneration plant with a

thermal output of 3.5 MW was developed,

engineered and built for the company. The

plant’s electrical effi ciency with the imple-

mented ORC is stable over a large power

spectrum. It generates approximately 600

kW of electrical power, which is supplied

to the public grid.

Fraunhofer Institute for

Factory Operation and

Automation IFF

Prof. Michael Schenk

Sandtorstrasse 22

39106 Magdeburg

Germany

Contact

Process and Plant Engineering

Dr. Matthias Gohla

Phone +49 391 4090-361

Fax +49 391 4090-366

matthias.gohla@iff.fraunhofer.de

www.iff.fraunhofer.de

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The boiler fi ring system is equipped with a

staged air supply and fl ue gas recirculation

to minimize nitrogen oxide emissions. The

automatic boiler control system continually

adjusts the quantities of air, fuel and reci-

gas to assure optimal burnout and thus low

carbon monoxide emissions and little resid-

ual carbon content in the ash.

Our Service – Your Success

Supplying all of the plant’s fuel from timber

processed for the production facility elimi-

nates otherwise disposing of waste wood

by hauling it to other users. The cogenera-

tion concept supplies process heat and the

operator profi ts from revenues from

the sale of electricity.

The process engineering and automation

of this version of the plant and the pres-

sureless operation of the boiler eliminate

any need for staff to monitor it constantly.

Following a planning, approval and con-

struction period of less than one year, the

plant has been in proper continuous ope-

ration since December of 2005.

The Fraunhofer IFF has also completed oth-

er innovative projects with highly effi cient

conversion technologies. If you are interest-

ed, contact us any time.

Our Expertise – Your Edge

The Process and Plant Engineering Business

Unit has many years of experience plan-

ning, engineering, installing and commis-

sioning combustor and gasifi er prototypes

in the lower industrial performance range.

We develop state-of-the-art ther mal con-

version systems and produce customized

plants that recover energy from biomass,

biogenic residues and high calorifi c wastes

for our clients.

In the process, the Process and Plant Engi-

neering Business Unit responds to and fac-

tors in your company’s individual circum-

stances in order to identify innovative solu-

tions, which can be integrated in your pro-

duction process.

References

We have engineered and overseen the con-

struction of biomass cogeneration plants

for, among others:

– Holzbearbeitung Bralitz GmbH,

– Robeta Holz OHG Milmersdorf,

– elbstrom AG Aschersleben and

– Holzindustrie Templin GmbH.

3 Biomass CHP in Milmersdorf.

4 CHP fl ue gas treatment in Aschers-

leben. Photos: Fraunhofer IFF

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