Operational experience and modelling of biomass combustion process in cogeneration systems with ORC units

Abstract

Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology is nowadays considered as interesting option for utilization of local biomass resources. The number of plants worldwide is constantly growing within typical range of electric power output form 0.2 to 3.0 MW. In such systems biomass combustion chambers with step or vibrating grates are used. Heat is transferred to the thermal oil in a separate spiral heat exchanger. The biggest problems in such system are variable and inaccurately predictable properties of biomass that directly influences operation of combustion equipment, and thus the performance of entire cogeneration plant. In this paper experiences from two plants are presented. The plants are located in Krosno (Poland) and in Ostfildern near Stuttgart, Germany. In the first one high quality wood chips are used whereas the second one is powered by low quality biomass with the mass ash content approaching 18%. Although similar, both plants use different strategies to control the combustion process. Long term measurements are used to develop biomass combustion models in the plants. The paper also presents results of implementation of the online optic measurement system for monitoring of biomass properties such as LHV, ash and water content.