VGB PowerTech e.V. - Pellet Council · VGB PowerTech e.V. | SLIDE 2 Activities VGB is a voluntary association of power plant operators, manufacturers and supply industry. We concentrate

VGB PowerTech e.V. VGB-Standard: Fire and Explosion Protection in Biomass Fired Power Plants

VGB-S-018-00-2013-12 Sebastian Zimmerling

VGB PowerTech e.V. | SLIDE 2

Activities

� VGB is a voluntary association of power plant operators, manufacturers and supply

industry.

� We concentrate technical expertise and services for our member companies

in all areas of power and heat generation.

� We collaborate in the preparation of European and national standards and develop

our own VGB-Standards

� We initiation and co-ordinate joint R&D projects for our members

� We focus on operational safety and environmental compatibility, as well as

availability and economic efficiency


Fossil-fired Power Plants: 246,000 MW

Nuclear Power Plants: 120,000 MW

Hydro, Wind, et al. RE: 89,000 MW

Total: ~Total: ~Total: ~Total: ~ 455,000 MW455,000 MW455,000 MW455,000 MW

EU 28: 456 Members in 21 CountriesEU 28: 456 Members in 21 CountriesEU 28: 456 Members in 21 CountriesEU 28: 456 Members in 21 Countries

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic,

Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,

Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,

Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain,

Sweden, the Netherlands, United Kingdom

Remaining Europe: 16 in 4 CountriesRemaining Europe: 16 in 4 CountriesRemaining Europe: 16 in 4 CountriesRemaining Europe: 16 in 4 Countries

Norway, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey

Outside Outside Outside Outside Europe: 11 in 9 Europe: 11 in 9 Europe: 11 in 9 Europe: 11 in 9 CountriesCountriesCountriesCountries

Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Israel,

Japan, Mongolia, South Africa,

USA

TotalTotalTotalTotal:::: 483 in 34 483 in 34 483 in 34 483 in 34 CountriesCountriesCountriesCountries

VGB represents ~ VGB represents ~ VGB represents ~ VGB represents ~ 455,000 MW455,000 MW455,000 MW455,000 MWeeee installed power capacityinstalled power capacityinstalled power capacityinstalled power capacity

VGB Membership countries


VGB PowerTech – Technical Committees

In more than 90 committees about 1,600

experts meet regularly for information exchange on all technical power plant

issues


• Exchange of operating experience

• Sustainability and supply chain management

• Availability and quality control

• Fuel refining technologies (torrefaction, HTC…)

• Storage, handling, feeding

• HSE and fire and explosion protection

• Co-/ mono-firing, power plant conversion and gasification

• Corrosion, slagging, erosion

• Regulatory framework conditions

• Observation and coordination of related research projects

EWG Biomass Ash(in coordination with ECOBA and EURELECTRIC)

EWG BIOMASS

Competence Centre 3 (CC3)


European Working Group “Biomass” – Member Companies

permanent guests


Starting Point

Members of VGB´s European Working Group “Biomass” repeatedly reported on fires

occurring in their power plants, especially during storage and conveying of biomass.

external ignition source

self ignition

ignition by hot surfaces

ignition source unknown


� Biomass is biological active, macro-biological and especially micro-biological

� Microbiological and chemical activities generate heat, which leads to self-heating

� Heat, that can not be dissipated can even lead to self ignition

� The higher the amount of stored biomass the lower the dissipation rate (adiabatic

boundary layer)

Challenges


Challenges

� Biomass fuels often contain huge amounts of dust

� Biomass dusts settle on surfaces and structures

� Biomass dusts are highly flammable, e.g. by hot surfaces

� Biomass dusts can build hazardous explosive atmospheres


Challenges


VGB-Standard

Conclusion

A new VGB-Standard is necessary to tackle the

challenges of storing and conveying large amounts of

biomass fuels

Outlines

� Addition to VGB-Standard R108: „Fire Protection in Power Plants”

� Explosion prevention had to be included

� Short but comprehensive “living document”

� Brief theoretical background

� Strong focus on recommendations for daily operation

� Best, to carry along during plant inspection


Structure

Basics

� What is a fire?

� What is an explosion?

� Which parameters are important for the characterisation of the fuel and its dust?

System Assessment

� Which possible hazards can be derived from the fuel properties?

� What promotes self-ignition during storage?

� Where are the risks during conveying and preparation (hot surfaces, sparks…)?


Protection against fire and explosion

� Fire risk precautions for

• Storage

• Conveying and preparation

� Protection against explosion

• Explosion prevention

• Explosion protection by construction

� Organizational measures against fire and explosion

Hints for fire fighting

� Common Measures

� Specific procedures for fire in open area storage

� Specific procedures for silo fires

Structure


Realised Installations (to be expanded continuously)

Structure


Additional information can be found in the according VGB-Standards and relevant

literature

� VGB-R108: „Fire Protection in Power Plants”

� VGB-S-217-00-2012-11-DE/EN: “Particularities of Fire Protection of Waste to Energy

Plants”

� VGB-M116: “Fire and Explosion Protection for Drying and Combustion of Sewage

Sludge”

� HDI-Gerling Sicherheitstechnik GmbH: “Fire Protection and Fire-fighting in Silo and

Bunker Plants”

� Persson, Henry: “Silo Fires - Fire extinguishing and preventive and preparatory

measures”

General information regarding HSE aspects of solid biomass can be found in

� IEA Report „Health and Safety Aspects of Solid Biomass Storage, Transportation and

Feeding“

More Information

Sebastian ZimmerlingBiomass / BiogasCC3 Renewables and Distributed GenerationT: +49 201 8128-330M: +49 151 18248-008E: [email protected]

Thank you very much for your attention

Documents

VGB PowerTech e.V. - Pellet Council · VGB PowerTech e.V. | SLIDE 2 Activities VGB is a voluntary association of power plant operators, manufacturers and supply industry. We concentrate