Energetic and Exergetic Performances of a Retrofitted, Large-Scale, Biomass-Fired CHP Coupled to a Steam-Explosion Biomass Upgrading Plant, a Biorefinery Process and a High-Temperature Heat Network

This paper aims at assessing the impact of retrofitting an existing, 730 MW<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mrow></mrow><mi>e</mi></msub></semantics><...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Roeland De Meulenaere, Tim Maertens, Ale Sikkema, Rune Brusletto, Tanja Barth, Julien Blondeau
Format: article
Language:EN
Published: MDPI AG 2021
Subjects:
CHP
T
Online Access:https://doaj.org/article/f321b3669de94d33bbb14dee0a1110aa
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Summary:This paper aims at assessing the impact of retrofitting an existing, 730 MW<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mrow></mrow><mi>e</mi></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula>, coal-fired power plant into a biomass-fired combined heat and power (CHP) plant on its energetic and exergetic performances. A comprehensive thermodynamic model of the power plant was developed and validated against field data, resulting in less than <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>1</mn><mo>%</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> deviation between the model and the measurements for the main process parameters. The validated model was then used to predict the behaviour of the biomass CHP after retrofitting. The modelled CHP unit is coupled to a steam-explosion biomass upgrading plant, a biorefinery process, and a high-temperature heat network. 13 scenarios were studied. At constant boiler load, delivering heat to the considered heat clients can increase the total energy efficiency of the plant from <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>44</mn><mo>%</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> (electricity only) to <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>64</mn><mo>%</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>, while the total exergy efficiency decreases from <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>39</mn><mo>%</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> to <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>35</mn><mo>%</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>. A total energy efficiency of <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>67</mn><mo>%</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> could be reached by lowering the network temperature from <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>120</mn><msup><mspace width="3.33333pt"></mspace><mo>∘</mo></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>C to <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>70</mn><msup><mspace width="3.33333pt"></mspace><mo>∘</mo></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>C. Identifying the needed heat clients could, however, represent a limiting factor to reach such high efficiencies. For a constant power demand, increasing the boiler load from 80 to <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>100</mn><mo>%</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> in order to provide additional heat makes the total energy efficiency increase from <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>43</mn><mo>%</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> to <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>55</mn><mo>%</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>, while the total exergy efficiency decreases from <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>39</mn><mo>%</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> to <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>36</mn><mo>%</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>.