Biomass District Heating

October 20, 2011 David Claus P.Eng, D.Phil

Energy Manager

2

Outline

• UNBC

– Overview

– Why biomass?

• Enhanced Forestry Laboratory

– Pellet system

• Bio Energy Facility

– Gasifier

3

UNBC – Main Campus

• Opened in 1994

• Community of 5,000 people

• Over 93,000 m2 of building space

• District heating system

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UNBC Energy Consumption

Utility Consumption Unit Cost

Electricity 14,540,000 kWh $ 1,110,000

Natural Gas 106,000 GJ $ 1,066,000

Water and Sewer 143,000 m3 $ 125,000

Propane 5,000 L $ 4,000

Diesel (Plant) 9,200 L N/A

Total $ 2,305,000

April 2009 – March 2010 (some values are approximate)

Electricity 48%

Natural Gas 46%

Water and

Sewer 6%

Utility Cost Breadown (Apr 2009 - Mar 2010)

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Outline

• UNBC

– Overview

– Why biomass?

• Enhanced Forestry Laboratory

– Pellet system

• Bio Energy Facility

– Gasifier

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Biomass

• Residual wood fiber

– Hog Fuel

– Pellets

• Local by-product

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Why Biomass?

Canada’s Green

University™

Academic impact

Non-fossil based energy

sources

Research potential

Stakeholder support and enthusiasm

Local employment

created

Alignment with campus

development plan

Energy security

8

Leader in Renewable Energy

• Research intensive institution

• Northern community focus

• Participation with First Nations communities

• Northern Bioenergy Partnership

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Biomass Heating at UNBC

Biomass Heating

Mountain Pine

Beetle

Reduce Natural

Gas

Cost of Carbon

Emissions

• Renewable carbon

• Local fuel (employment)

• Education

• Research

• Cost avoidance

10

Outline

• UNBC

– Overview

– Why biomass?

• Enhanced Forestry Laboratory

– Pellet system

• Bio Energy Facility

– Gasifier

11

Biomass Heating

EFL Pellet System Bio Energy Facility

Capacity 400 kW 4,400 kW

Fuel type Wood Pellets Hog Fuel

Conversion technology Direct combustion Gasification/Oxidation

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Enhanced Forestry Laboratory

• 930 m2 of greenhouse, lab and office space

– 4 greenhouse compartments

– Instructional/research lab

– Soil preparation area

– 11 offices

• Completed in 2000/2004

• Two natural gas boilers for heating

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Wood Pellet Heating

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Wood Pellet System Overview

• 1.4 MBTU Pellet Boiler (400 kW)

• High Temperature Filter System

• Pellet fuel

– Cost $135/tonne

– Consumption 150 tonnes

– Natural gas offset 2,500 GJ/yr

• Project capital cost $485,500

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Emissions

• Prince George airshed is sensitive to additional particulate loading

• High temperature filter system

– Replaced cloth filters cartridges with stainless steel

• Emissions tests confirm 6-10 mg/m3

range

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Research

• Ongoing research in the following areas:

– Energy balance

– Material balance

– Greenhouse gas emissions

– Ash as soil amendment

• Principal researchers:

– Dr Steve Helle

– Dr Michael Rutherford

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District Energy System

• Heating/Cooling • Electrical Distribution • Cogen ready

• 8 buildings • 93,000 m2

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Biomass Gasification Overview

• 15 MMBtu/h flue gas boiler

• 68,000 GJ/yr

• Hot water heat distribution

• Offset 85% of natural gas used for core building heating

• 3,500 tonnes/yr CO2e offset

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Biomass Gasification

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Sustainability Award

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LEED GOLD PROJECT

• Construction

– Recycle all construction waste

– Use local wood in construction

– High ash content concrete

– Recycled steel

• Operation

– Heat building with Bio-Energy system

– Use wood waste from local sawmill for fuel

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Operational Impacts

• Pellet system

– Periodic maintenance

– 5 trucks per year

• Gasification system

– 3 trucks/day (winter)

– Industrial equipment

– Confined space entry

– Additional operators

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Public Tours and Lectures

• Over 1,000 people toured the systems

– Students, Facilities, Businesses and Government

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Biomass Heating EFL Pellet System Bio Energy Facility

Capacity 400 kW 4,400 kW

Area heated 930 m2 63,200 m2

Fuel type Wood Pellets Hog Fuel

Moisture content 6% Up to 40%

Conversion technology Direct combustion Gasification/Oxidation

Emissions control Cartridge filter Electrostatic precipitator

Natural gas offset 2,500 GJ/yr 80,000 GJ/yr

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Why Biomass?

Canada’s Green

University™

Academic impact

Non-fossil based energy

sources

Research potential

Stakeholder support and enthusiasm

Local employment

created

Alignment with campus

development plan

Energy security

30

Questions?

claus@unbc.ca

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Why Gasification?

• All wood combustion is essentially gas combustion

• Separate gasification chamber – Isolate the syngas

• Pyrolysis – Syngas

– Biochar

– Pyrolysis oil

Mikroflo Filter

Stack

Ash Collection

Pyrot 400 Boiler

Wood Pellet Fuel Silo

Heat Exchanger

Existing Boiler

Heat Storage Tank

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Carbon Neutrality

• Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act (2007)

– Carbon neutral by 2010

– Measure, reduce, then offset

– Pacific Carbon Trust $25 per tonne

• Provincial Carbon Tax (2008)

– Currently $25 at source per tonne CO2e

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Biomass Advantages

• Renewable

– Can be re-grown and sustainably managed

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions

– No net atmospheric CO2 build-up

– Methane displacement

• Reliable energy

– Not weather dependent

– Firm capacity, flexible response

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Biomass Disadvantages

• Energy density

– Lower than fossil fuels

– Energy required to produce the fuel

– High transportation costs

• Solid fuel

– Less flexible than petroleum

• Labour intensive

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Pellet Silo

• Capacity: 93 m3 (50 tonnes)

• Overall height 8.5 m

• Designed to demonstrate B-train truck deliveries

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Boiler

• KOB/Viessmann Pyrot Rotary Combustion – KRT400

– 1365 MBH (400 kW)

– Max 30 psig

– 28.76 m2 heating area

• Certifications – ASME Section IV

– CSA/UL Safety Standards

– Canadian Registration Number (CRN)