For a major German energy supplier, a flexible biomass CHP plant generates electricity and process steam – mainly heat for the neighbouring potato processing plant during the week, more electricity at the weekend.
Thermal input
Steam output
Electrical output
Challenge
Fluctuating heat demand – a plant that has to respond flexibly.
A major German energy supplier was looking for a way to generate electricity and heat economically from biomass while reliably covering a fluctuating heat demand.
The CHP plant supplies process steam to a neighbouring potato processing plant. During the week it requires a lot of heat; at the weekend demand drops significantly.
The plant therefore had to operate economically even with strongly fluctuating heat consumption. Instead of leaving surplus energy unused, the available output was to be used as sensibly as possible for power generation. At the same time, the firing system had to be flexible enough to handle different biomass fuels reliably.
Solution
Generating heat and electricity exactly when they are needed.
Kablitz built a biomass CHP plant with a vertical-pass boiler and a flexible firing system for forest residues and landscape maintenance material.
A steam air preheater enables fast and precise control of the firing. Together with the economiser, it improves energy utilisation and supports efficient plant operation. The combination of flexible firing, steam boiler and turbine makes it possible to adapt energy generation to the respective demand.
One plant, two operating strategies
Heat during the week. More electricity at the weekend.
During the week, the power plant supplies process steam to the neighbouring potato processing plant while generating around 5 MW of electrical output.
At the weekend, when little or no process heat is required, more steam is available for power generation. Electrical output can then rise to around 7.2 MW. The plant thus makes good use of its capacity even when heat demand changes.
Flexibility starts with the fuel
Different fuels. Different conditions. One reliable firing system.
The firing system is designed for forest residues and landscape maintenance material and can therefore process different biomass qualities. This keeps the operator flexible in the choice of fuel and allows existing biomass resources to be used economically.
Result
An energy plant that keeps pace with demand.
The combined heat and power concept links reliable process heat with flexible power generation.
- Flexible energy generationThe plant adapts its mode of operation to the current heat demand.
- Up to 7.2 MW of electricityWhen heat demand falls, more energy can be used for power generation.
- Process heat for productionDuring the week, the neighbouring potato processing plant is reliably supplied with low-cost process steam.
- Flexible fuel useForest residues and landscape maintenance material are used as renewable energy sources.
- High cost-effectivenessThe available energy is used as efficiently as possible even when heat demand fluctuates.
Technology
Goch, Germany
- Thermal input
- 28 MW
- Steam output
- 30 t/h
- Electrical output
- 5–7.2 MW
- Max. process heat output
- 27 t/h
- Steam temperature
- 480 °C
- Steam pressure
- 65 bar
- Fuel throughput
- approx. 100,000 t/year
- Calorific value range
- 1.5–3.2 kWh/kg
- Fuels used
- Forest residues · landscape maintenance material
Inside the plant.
Every perspective.
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