Abstract
Flexible and demand-based production of electricity and heat (combined heat and power – CHP) from solid biomass is an extremely interesting concept for a renewable energy system as the used fuel shows excellent storability. However, conversion and power generation technology limit flexibility for several reasons.
Combined heat and power plants for the production of solid biomass are today designed for base load operation. The most common systems are steam cycles, organic Rankine cycles (ORC) and combinations of gasification and gas engines. Other available technologies include Stirling engines, fuel cells and thermoelectric generators (TEGs). Some technologies are already able to provide flexibility in power production. Extracting turbines, for example, are able to change the power-to-heat ratio of the system. It is possible to increase flexibility by using additional or upgraded units such as heat or gas storages, new steam turbines or new control systems. Potential solutions for increasing flexibility in combined heat and power production from solid biomass are expected to include micro-CHP systems and gasification units with high flexibility and high power-to-heat ratio. Larger plants may show less flexibility due to their thermal inertness (which sometimes has been part of the design, e.g. to stabilize combustion of fuels with low heating values).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Tertiary control is used to stabilize the grid for deviations lasting longer than 15 min.
References
N. Szarka et al., A novel role for bioenergy: a flexible demand-oriented power-supply. Energy 61, 18–26 (2013)
A. Pollex, A. Ortwein, M. Kaltschmitt, Thermo-chemical conversion of solid biofuels. Biomass Convers. Biorefinery 2(1), 21–39 (2012)
M. Kaltschmitt, H. Hartmann, H. Hofbauer, Energie aus Biomasse: Grundlagen, Techniken und Verfahren, 2nd edn. (Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg, 2009)
R. Warnecke, Gasification of biomass: comparison of fixed bed and fluidized bed gasifier. Biomass Bioenergy 18(6), 489–497 (2000)
M. Netzer, P. Kolbitsch, Grate firing or bubbling fluidized bed firing – an economic and technological comparison. Presentation at the 4th central European biomass conference, Graz, 2014
W. Kalide, H. Sigloch, Energieumwandlung in Kraft- und Arbeitsmaschinen: Kolbenmaschinen – Strömungsmaschinen – Kraftwerke, 10th edn. (Hanser, München, 2010)
S. van Loo, J. Koppejan (eds.), The Handbook of Biomass Combustion and Co-firing (Earthscan, London/Sterling, 2008)
M. Van den Broek, B. Vanslambrouck, M. De Paepe, Electricity generation from biomass: Organic rankine cycle versus steam cycle. Presentation at the world bioenergy 2012, Jönköping, Sweden, 2012
T. Augustin, Small scale biomass co-generation with modern steam engines. Presented at the IEA-workshop, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2010
M. Schmid, Dezentrale Stromerzeugung mit Feststoffbiomasse; Projektreport (Ökozentrum Langenbruck, Langenbruck, 2007)
M.M.J. Knoope et al., Future technological and economic performance of IGCC and FT production facilities with and without CO2 capture: combining component based learning curve and bottom-up analysis. Int. J. Greenh. Gas Contr. 16, 287–310 (2013)
P. Kurzweil, Brennstoffzellentechnik – Grundlagen, Komponenten, Systeme, Anwendungen, 2nd edn. (Springer, Wiesbaden, 2013)
B. Thomas, Mini-Blockheizkraftwerke: Grundlagen, Gerätetechnik, Betriebsdaten, 2nd edn. (Vogel, Wurzburg, 2011)
B. Kongtragool, S. Wongwises, A review of solar-powered Stirling engines and low temperature differential Stirling engines. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 7(2), 131–154 (2003)
H.I. Onovwiona, V.I. Ugursal, Residential cogeneration systems: review of the current technology. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 10(5), 389–431 (2006)
L. Dong, H. Liu, S. Riffat, Development of small-scale and micro-scale biomass-fuelled CHP systems – a literature review. Appl. Therm. Eng. 29(11–12), 2119–2126 (2009)
S. Riffat, X. Ma, Thermoelectrics: a review of present and potential applications. Appl. Ther. Eng. 23(8), 913–935 (2003)
S.H. Powell, J.T. Hamrick, A wood-fired gas turbine plant, in Proceedings from the Eighth Annual Industrial Energy Technology Conference, Houston, 1986, pp. 244–249
H. Spliethoff, Power Generation from Solid Fuels, 1st edn. (Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg, 2010)
C.-K. Weng, A. Ray, Robust wide-range control of steam-electric power plants. IEEE Trans. Contr. Syst. Technol. 5(1), 74–88 (1997)
General Electric Company, D-17 Steam Turbine Fact Sheet (Company Brochure), 2012
G. Scholz, Rohrleitungs- und Apparatebau – Planungshandbuch für Industrie- und Fernwärmeversorgung (Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg, 2012)
B. Sanner et al. Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for Renewable Heating & Cooling; European Technology Platform on Renewable Heating and Cooling, Brussels, 2013
M. Scheftelowitz et al., Stromerzeugung aus Biomasse 03MAP250 (Zwischenbericht Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum, Leipzig, 2013)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ortwein, A., Lenz, V. (2015). Flexible Power Generation from Solid Biofuels. In: Thrän, D. (eds) Smart Bioenergy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16193-8_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16193-8_4
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16192-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16193-8
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)