Das Projekt "Bio-energy chains from perennial crops in South Europe" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Technische Universität Graz, Institut für Prozess- und Partikeltechnik durchgeführt. The overall objective of this project is to define and evaluate complete bioenergy chains from biomass crop production to thermochemical conversion for production of energy specially suitable for southern Europe. The complete chains will be evaluated regarded technical, environmental and economic aspects in order to identify the most promising combinations of biomass resources and technologies. In order to fulfil these objectives four perennial energy crops (Cardoon, Giant reed, Miscanthus and Switch Grass) have been carefully selected, which, due to their different seasonal harvest times, can provide an-all-year around availability of raw material for a subsequent energy production (combustion, gasification or fast pyrolysis). The work in the project is divided into three main phases: The four selected biomass crops will be cultivated in large fields in representative agricultural regions in Greece, Spain, France and Italy and subsequently harvested. Field measurements from these test fields will be used for the technical, economic and environmental analyses in the following work packages. Each crop will be fully characterised and subjected to a comprehensive test programme of combustion, gasification and fast pyrolysis. A report on the technical evaluation of the overall integrated bioenergy chain performance from biomass in the field to a derived heat and/or power product will be produced. An economic assessment will be carried out on the data collected from the first two phases. The overall performance from biomass in the field to a delivered energy product as heat and or power will be measured by reference to the component parts in the chain starting in the field and progressing through each stage of handling and processing to a final marketable product. An overall performance model will be derived to provide consistent comparison between different bio-energy chains. These assessments will be used to identify and prioritise the best combinations of biomass and conversion technology for each country. Work of the Institute of Chemical Engineering Fundamentals and Plant Engineering (GLVT), Graz University of Technology, within the project The role of GLVT in the project is to characterise the four specially selected fuel crops by comprehensive chemical analyses and by performing thermal conversion test runs in a laboratory-scale test reactor and in a pilot-scale combustion plant (100 kWth). During these test runs combustion characteristics such as, slagging, fouling and corrosion tendencies as well as emission potentials (NOX, SOX and particulates), of the fuels investigated, will be measured and evaluated.
Das Projekt "Reduction of fouling, slagging and corrosion characteristics of Miscanthus for power and heat generation using biotechnology" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Technische Universität Graz, Institut für Prozess- und Partikeltechnik durchgeführt. Background: Energy crops, such as Miscanthus, used for heat and power production require fuel specifications which are not yet fully met. These include as low levels of Cl, K and N. Since there are significant differences in the fuel quality of various genotypes of Miscanthus it should be possible to improve the characteristics by selecting various traits in a breeding programme. Objectives of the project: The objectives of this shared costs action is to achieve a significant reduction in cleaning, maintenance and replacement cost for expensive heat exchangers (piping) in thermal conversion processes by reducing the fouling, slagging and corrosion characteristics of Miscanthus. Technical Approach: The technical approach is to minimize the concentrations of Cl, K and S in Miscanthus and the combining effects of these elements. This will be done by analysis of the genetics behind those components that cause fouling, slagging and corrosion. The following activities are included in the work programme: development of improved genotypes using molecular techniques; field tests of Miscanthus grown in different environments; thermal conversion trials in a laboratory scale plant - testing for fouling, slagging and corrosion; estimating the benefits of reduced Cl, S and K in boilers by means of high temperature chemical equilibrium calculations; Results of the project to date. Preliminary experiments have shown the potential of using biotechnology tools for the genetic improvement of Miscanthus in selecting quality traits for combustion. Work is in progress with field experiments and laboratory scale combustion facilities. Work of the Institute of Chemical Engineering Fundamentals and Plant Engineering (GLVT), Graz University of Technology, within the project: The role of GLVT in the project is to provide know how on deposition and corrosion problems in boilers biomass combustion plants as well as to perform high temperature equilibrium calculation in order to evaluate the benefits of an improved Miscanthus fuel with lower levels of Cl, S and K. Furthermore, GLVT does also support the project with SEM and chemical analyses of deposit and corrosion samples collected in the laboratory scale test runs performed by partner BTG.