Page 85 - North American Clean Energy March April 2016

A seemingly insurmountable hurdle to overcome is the substance created while using biomass, tar, and the problems it causes on the engine. Tar is a highly viscous mixture of di erent organic compounds released during thermal digestion, and is deposited in the engine. e wear is high and frequent maintenance is the only solution. With this new system, however, the power generator can be operated with many di erent fuel mixtures, and even without additional ltration, the amount of tar residues is less than 0.1 grams per standard cubic meter.
Another important point is the range
of usable fuels. Ideally, these should be decomposable, and locally available. In addition, they should not enter into competition for land with food plants. Waste is therefore the ideal solution. A science team at the Technical University of Graz (Austria) is doing ongoing research, identifying new opportunities to convert by-products, agriculture waste, and speci c household waste components into a sustainable fuel mixture. At the laboratory, they test various starting materials, verify the tar content, the syngas composition, and the emission values. In the end, many other fuel mixtures will be certi ed.
Whether its a pellet facility in California, a farm in the Argentine pampas, or a village in the heart of Africa, the demands on power supply are similar. If it can be easily transported to the operation site, simply installed, economically operated, and conveniently maintained, a power plant meets the essential characteristics to be used far away from central electricity grids.
Julien Uhlig is the CEO of ENTRADE Energiesysteme AG, a German cleantech company. ENTRADE is a portfolio company of the LA Cleantech Incubator and one E3 unit in the front of the LA Kretz Innovation Campus is powering the building with electricity and cooling.
ENTRADE Energiesysteme AG
www.entrade.co
Gasi cation ow meter
Fluid Components International’s (FCI) ST75 Series Air/Gas Flow Meter operates in rugged, hot, biomass gasi cation plant environments to provide measurement of mixed composition gases including hydrogen (H2), carbon monoxide (CO), and trace methane (CH4) with highly dependable accuracy to ±2% of reading with ±0.5% repeatability in line sizes from 0.25 to 2 inches (6 to 51 mm).
With its thermal dispersion mass ow sensing element, the ST75 Flow Meter measures mixed composition gases, and is safe for potentially ammable or explosive combustible gas environments. e ST75 Flow Meter operates over a wide ow range in mixed gas environments from 0.01 to 559 SCFM (0.01 to 950 NCMH), depending on line size. For variable process conditions such as those in biomass gasi cation plants, the ST75 meter is factory preset to a turndown range of 10:1 to 100:1.
e ST75 Flow Meter’s fully scalable dual 4-20mA standard outputs are user assignable to ow rate and/or temperature and a 0-1kHz pulse output of total ow. It withstands process temperatures from 0°F to 250°F (-18°C to 121°C). It operates at pressures up to 240 psig [16.5 bar (g)] with a standard t- tting (NPT female) process connection. With a tube process connection, the meter withstands
600 psig [41 bar (g)].
O ering direct- ow measurement for higher performance at a lower cost with proven thermal
dispersion technology, the ST75 Flow Meter eliminates the need for additional pressure and temperature sensors, ow computers, or other devices that are required with ori ce plates, Venturis, Vortex shedding, and other volumetric meters. e ST75 meter also requires virtually no maintenance for both a low installed and low life-cycle cost.
FCI | www. uidcomponents.com
Ef cient spin loader
Metalfab, Inc. has announced availability of their new Spin Loader. Available in two carbon steel models, the Spin Loader allows utilization of bulk storage facilities to their fullest capacity while eliminating the pyramiding which occurs when akes and granular materials are loaded into bins, hopper cars, and piles. It also enables loading of up to 15% more product into virtually any storage facility evenly in a 360° arc without costly hand labor or interruption of ow.
Simple to install and easy to operate, the Spin Loader can handle up to 200,000lbs. per hour
of 90lbs. per cubic foot material. e entering material ows through the Spin Loader’s tube
to a motorized, spinning disc which directs it to the outer walls of the bin, allowing each bin or compartment to be lled to its maximum capacity. is method of redirecting the particles greatly reduces the possibility of particle separation while allowing the particles to intermix. And since the entire loading system may be completely enclosed, product waste, and contamination are eliminated. Metalfab, Inc. | www.metalfabinc.com
Customized thermal solutions
Vulcan Systems specializes in customized thermal solutions for material processing and handling. eir biomass torrefaction systems are able to process biomass to maximize the energy per ton of the product. Torre ng wood by taking the wood to the temperatures nearing combustion in an oxygen deprived thermal processor breaks down the hemicellulose and lignins. Breaking down those compounds and exposing the wood to the high temperatures produces a product with a high BTU value and which is friable.
At Vulcan Systems ermal Testing Center, clients have the opportunity to bring in materials for thermal processing and feasibility testing, enabling their sta
to o er an economical thermal solution for each client’s speci c material. eir custom-designed thermal treatment and drying equipment helps to cost-e ectively meet environmental regulations while also producing a high-quality, high-value product.
Vulcan Systems | www.getvulcan.com
Poultry litter-fueled biomass boiler
Hurst Boiler, an international manufacturer of a complete line of gas, oil, coal, and hybrid biomass fuel red steam and hot water boilers since 1967, announces the commissioning of its third poultry litter-fueled boiler. Litter has posed a challenge for many boiler systems due to its high ash content and ash characteristics. Litter is signi cantly di erent from other biomass fuels. Hurst’s new poultry litter- fueled biomass boiler system successfully overcomes the challenges to deliver an energy e cient and environmentally sustainable solution.
Hurst Boiler | www.hurstboiler.com
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