Post on 23-Dec-2015
The Combine Project: Solid Fuel and Biogas
from Biomass
Rachel Smith
An INTERREG IVb NWE project led by University of Kassel with partners in Belgium (Flanders), Germany and France (Brittany)
Background
Forage use:
• Low nutritive value of the forage• Declining livestock levels
Biogas production:
• Limited degradability and methane yields• Frequently incomplete use of waste heat
Combustion:
• Risk of slagging, corrosion and emissions
What to do with residual grassland
biomass ?
Combine in the UK
Aims: Enhance biodiversityIncrease green waste recycling
Landowners:National Trust, Wildlife Trusts, County Councils – parks, sports fields, roadside verges
BB
Combine feedstock material• France – roadside verges
former railwayssemi natural grassland
• Belgium – natural grasslandcontaminated grassland (mostly Cr)hedge clippings (mixed garden species)leek harvest residueJapanese Knotweed
• Wales – rushes / grasslandBrackenEuropean gorse
TechniqueIFBB – Integrated Generation of Solid Fuel
and Biogas from Biomass
Mechanical Separation
Press Fluid Press Cake
Fermentation Drying
Combined Heat and Power Plant
Pelleting
DehydratedBiomass
Biogas
ElectricEnergy
Fertiliser
ThermalEnergy
Solid fuel
Biomass
Hydrothermal Conditioning
TechniqueIFBB – Integrated Generation of Solid Fuel
and Biogas from Biomass
Mechanical Separation
Press Fluid Press Cake
Fermentation Drying
Combined Heat and Power Plant
Pelleting
DehydratedBiomass
Biogas
ElectricEnergy
Fertiliser
ThermalEnergy
Solid fuel
Biomass
Hydrothermal Conditioning
TechniqueIFBB – Integrated Generation of Solid Fuel
and Biogas from Biomass
Mechanical Separation
Press Fluid Press Cake
Fermentation Drying
Combined Heat and Power Plant
Pelleting
DehydratedBiomass
Biogas
ElectricEnergy
Fertiliser
ThermalEnergy
Solid fuel
Biomass
Hydrothermal Conditioning
TechniqueIFBB – Integrated Generation of Solid Fuel
and Biogas from Biomass
Mechanical Separation
Press Fluid Press Cake
Fermentation Drying
Combined Heat and Power Plant
Pelleting
DehydratedBiomass
Biogas
ElectricEnergy
Fertiliser
ThermalEnergy
Solid fuel
Biomass
Hydrothermal Conditioning
TechniqueIFBB – Integrated Generation of Solid Fuel
and Biogas from Biomass
Mechanical Separation
Press Fluid Press Cake
Fermentation Drying
Combined Heat and Power Plant
Pelleting
DehydratedBiomass
Biogas
ElectricEnergy
Fertiliser
ThermalEnergy
Solid fuel
Biomass
Hydrothermal Conditioning
Nutrient flows during mechanical dehydration
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
Chlorine
Calcium
Magnesium
Potassium
Sulphur
Dry matter
Mass flow into the press cake
Mass flow into the press fluid
Nitrogen
Fuel quality
Sulphur
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
2.0
SilagePresscake
g kg
-1D
M
Chlorine
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0Potassium
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
NOx emissions
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Wooden pellets
IFBB pellets
Woodchips II
Woodchips I
IFBB II
IFBB I
NOx emissions [mg/m3]
Grate firing (double-staged)
Pellet oven (single-staged)
NOx emissions and Ash melting behaviour
• Two staged combustion oven required• Ash melting temperature similar to woodchip• Calorific value slightly lower than woodchip
[GJ ha-1]
-70 -60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30
Composting
Mulching
Beef cattle
Hay combustion
Dry fermentation
IFBB (add-on)
IFBB (stand-alone)
Savings Input
HeatElectricityFertiliserMetabolisable energyDieselHeatElectricityBalance
HeatElectricityFertiliserMetabolisable energyDieselHeatElectricityBalance
HeatElectricityFertiliserMetabolisable energyDieselHeatElectricityBalance
Savings
Input
Primary energy balance
COMBINE in UK• First IFBB likely to be in Lincolnshire with a
firm of landscape contractors• Second and third likely to be in Wales – one at
a biogas plant and one stand-alone• Our major objective in Wales is to remove
grass cuttings from highway verges
Summary - IFBB• Produce Renewable Energy – biogas and solid biofuel• Generate income from under-utilised biomass• Process can be adapted to address specific area
needs• Enhance biodiversity
Combine Final Conference
Wednesday 9th September 2015Save the date!
Please contact us for more informationRachel Smith rachels@severnwye.org.uk
Andy Bull andyb@severnwye.org.ukwww.combine-nwe.eu