Presentation Transcript

1. BiomassWhere have we come from and what have we learned

   EPMA Annual Conference June 25, 2012 Colby College
2. Todays topics What is Biomass? Fuels Boilers Fuel storage and handling Why use Biomass? Where in Maine are biomass systems located? Schools Others Total units What have we learned and what should we do different another time What have we learned about Boiler sizing? What have we learned about biomass fuel? What have we learned about fuel storage and delivery? What have we learned about emissions and efficiency? What have we learned about design? What financial considerations are there? What should one do before considering installing a biomass boiler? June 25, 2012
3. What is bio-mass? Biomass is biological material derived from living, or recently living organisms. In the context of biomass for energy, this is often used to mean plant based material, but biomass can equally apply to both animal and vegetable derived material. Components of a biomass system include: Fuels Softwood chips Hardwood chips Hogged wood Bark Sawdust Debris Wood pellets Grass pellets and pucks Grass loose Corn Farm animal waste Food waste Industrial waste June 25, 2012
4. What is bio-mass? Boilers Hot water Steam Gasifiers Fire tube, water tube Moving grate, stationary bed, burn pot Duel fuel June 25, 2012
5. What is bio-mass? Fuel Storage and handling Bunkers –on grade, below grade- containers Silos – vertical, horizontal Storage rooms – converted from something else, like coal bins June 25, 2012
6. Why use biomass? Biomass is a renewable, low carbon fuel that is already widely available throughout Maine. Its production and use also brings additional environmental and social benefits. Correctly managed, biomass is a sustainable fuel that can deliver a significant reduction in net carbon emissions when compared with fossil fuels. Keeps money in the Maine economy. 18 million acres, more now than 50 years ago, sufficient infrastructure. Looking toward short growth crops, willow. June 25, 2012
7. Maine’s working forest and population density June 25, 2012
8. Crude oil prices 1869-2011 June 25, 2012
9. Crude oil prices 1970-2011 June 25, 2012
10. Where in Maine are bio-mass systems located? First commercial sized biomass (other than residential units) were paper companies 1. East Millinocket 1954 2. Lincoln P & P 1957 3. Baileyville 1966 4. Westbrook 1982 5. Hinckley 1990 *Co-fired with other fuels such as liquor, coal, oil June 25, 2012
11. Where in Maine are bio-mass systems located? Biomass electric exploded on to the scene in the 1980’s 1. One in 1986 2. Four in 1987 3. One in 1988 4. Two in 1989 *Biomass only, no co-fire 5. One in 1992 6. One in 1993 7. Ten total, only about 6 running now due to lowering cost of imported electric June 25, 2012
12. Where in Maine are bio-mass systems located? Also in the 1980’s, due to the oil embargo of 1973, some schools installed “Dumont” boilers developed by Professor Richard Hill of the U of M. No good records but I know of 4 or 5 of this installed (MeDOE paid for them). None being used and most removed. • Wood stick, manually loaded vertically, burned down, induced draft, 3,000 gal thermal storage. June 25, 2012
13. Where in Maine are bio-mass systems located? Not much happened until Leavitt High School installed a 5 MMBTU/h unit in 1999 Installations began picking up from there. June 25, 2012
14. Where in Maine are bio-mass systems located? The next big effort came as a result of the oil price increase in 2008. Schools started looking for ways to reduce heating costs but also to reduce impact of sudden increases such as the crude oil price spike in 2008 at $149/barrel. The real big push came as the result of an effort by Gov. Baldacci to address ways to help Maine Schools and families with heating costs. “The Governors wood to energy task force” performed its work, and as a result The Maine Dept. of Conservation began meetings the result of which was an application to the US Forest Service for funding as part of the ARRA stimulus program. June 25, 2012
15. Where in Maine are bio-mass systems located? Maine was awarded $11.4M in Federal funds which was matched by $20M other funds totaling $31.6M, really has been the shot in the arm that has increased the awareness and growth of biomass. Thru an application process, 105 applications were submitted over 3 rounds, and 22 ultimately were funded. Some are just coming online and some are being constructed as we speak June 25, 2012
16. Where in Maine are bio-mass systems located? MeDOE funded RSU 52 Turner HS 1998 800 tons chips RSU 3 Thorndike K-12 2009 800 tons chips SAD 46 Dexter Pk-8 2010600 tons chips SAD 9Mallet ES 2010 350 tons pellets * Falmouth ES & HS 2010 2200 tons chips AOS 93 Jefferson ES 2011200 tons chips RSU 1 Woolwich ES 2011 200 tons chips RSU 12 Chelsea ES 2011 200 tons chips SAD 9 Mt. Blue HS/VOC 2011 2200 tons chips * June 25, 2012
17. Where in Maine are bio-mass systems located? Other funding sources CoAtlantic Bar Harbor 2008250 tons pellets SAD 9 New Sharon ES 2009 125 tons pellets SAD 9 Wilton ES 2009125 tons pellets RSU 61 Naples 2009 400 tons pellets RSU 58 Mt Abram HS 2009 400 tons pellets RSU 39 Caribou HS/VOC 2010 1000 tons chips RSU 58 Kingfield ES 2010 250 tons pellets RSU 58 Stratton ES 2010 250 tons pellets Colby Waterville 2010 13000 tons chips June 25, 2012
18. Where in Maine are bio-mass systems located? There are now at least 35 schools or educational facilities using wood fiber to heat their facilities! June 25, 2012
19. Where in Maine are bio-mass systems located? Other facilities Town Garage Gardiner 2011 (wood pellet) VA Center Togus201222000 tons chips* Commercial Jackson Lab Bar Harbor2011 (wood pellet) Mt Abram Ski Area 2012 (wood pellet) Moose River Lumber Co (chips, sawdust, shavings) Lumber and other misc. about 4 units across the state June 25, 2012
20. Economic Impact Total Chip consumption 29,485 tons Total Pellet consumption 5,910 tons Total oil displaced gals 2.4M gallons Total wood fiber cost $2.9M Total $ saved $5.7M Total dollars added to or kept in Maine economy $7.8M 32 new jobs created June 25, 2012
21. Fuel Providers Now have 4 pellet mgrs. And 1 very large one on the boards, in Maine At least 3 pellet mgrs. serving Maine At least 2 wood chip brokers and a few individual suppliers of chips June 25, 2012
22. Boiler and Supplier locations1998 June 25, 2012
23. Boiler locationsARRA Funded 2012 June 25, 2012
24. Boiler locationsAll 2012 June 25, 2012
25. Boiler and Supplier locationsBoilers and Fuel Suppliers2012 June 25, 2012
26. Growth by Year June 25, 2012
27. Brands of Boilers Brands of boilers in Maine *(ARRA and DOE only) Viessmann 12 Messersmith 11 Okofen 5 * (installations only total units is higher) Chiptec 3 Schmid 2 Skanden 2 Hamont 2 Hurst 1 AFS 1 Reka 1 Biomax 1 Other 2 Total 43 1998 only 1, today 43 There are another 20 or so big users like paper and electric June 25, 2012
28. What have we learned and what would we do different another time? June 25, 2012
29. What have we learned about Boiler sizing? Many we have seen are grossly oversized. Boiler size can impact efficiency, emissions, and fuel consumption. Reduce stand by losses by sizing smaller, short cycling. Must determine what load curve is best to satisfy – fixed demand, peak load, partial load Rule of thumb for biomass 60-70% of fixed demand, no more than 85% of fixed Use current fossil fuel consumption to create load curve, do not use current fossil fuel boiler size as a means of sizing wood boilers June 25, 2012
30. What have we learned about biomass fuel? Most installs (chip) are burning higher quality fuel than necessary Paying too much Lower quality, lower cost fuel can be as efficient as high quality, high cost fuel High quality fuel does not always save money Moisture content effects consumption 55% -35% will reduce yearly consumption by 20-25% Fuel delivery systems not designed for over/under sized chips (no screening) Pellet quality does vary, get significant samples and test. Save results. June 25, 2012
31. What have we learned about fuel storage and delivery? Capacity needs to be 7 days at highest firing rate, plus 1 full truckload Example: 3 MMBTH/h, 50% MC, 400 lbs/hr, 5 tons/day, 35 tons/week, 4000 CF Plus next truck 28-32 tons or 2800-3400 CF Minimum 6-7000 CF, 12x30x16 Large trucks need access to bunker or silo, with adequate turning space, ability to deliver during school operating hours June 25, 2012
32. What have we learned about fuel storage and delivery? Access needs to consider height of trailer bumper, <18 inches Smaller capacity bunkers, silos need daily monitoring 2 overhead door openings, 12 FT wide x 14FT tall, 16 FT preferred Allow trailer bed to back into bunker, not face of outside wall Bunkers need visual inspection window or cameras to determine remaining fuel June 25, 2012
33. Bunker Sizes Bunker sizes.pdf Wood Chip Trailer.jpg Chips coming out of trailer.bmp Trailer inside bunker.jpg Drive on walking floor.jpg Trailer should fit into door opening.bmp June 25, 2012
34. What have we learned about fuel storage and delivery? Silos follow same logic for sizing Example: 3 MMBTH/h, 10% MC, 250 lbs/hr, 3 tons/day, 21 tons/week, 840 CF Plus next truck 20-28 tons or 800-1100 CF Minimum 1600-2000 CF, 12 FT diameter x 35 FT tall silo Silos need level indicators to monitor volume Silos need view window to see fill progress, over filling June 25, 2012
35. What have we learned about emissions and efficiency? Combustion efficiency, 80% minimum, 85% should be norm Thermal transfer, minimum 3 pass heat exchanger Radiant efficiency, well insulated, room should be cool Overall net efficiency, combination of the above, ask for 3rd party evaluation Fuel quality effects emissions, especially particulate Overall efficiency effects fuel consumption rate June 25, 2012
36. What have we learned about emissions and efficiency? Turn down ratios, more is not better but some is required Idle mode is not acceptable Coordination between wood boiler and hydronics is critical for efficiency DDC controls very helpful, outside air, time of day, load prediction Must have 3 way valve Thermal storage will be more efficient, better control, less emissions Look at number of motors required throughout the system I’ve seen 20-30 HP of connected load when 6-10 HP could have done same functions Look for sensors that allow motors to only run when needed June 25, 2012
37. What have we learned about design? Most engineering and/or architectural firms lack expertise in biomass design Boiler room space needs to be larger than for fossil fuel fired boilers Need room for fuel storage Delivery access Reduce distance from fuel storage to burner ESP or bag houses should not be needed Industrial quality equipment, not agricultural like flex augers of plastic Maintenance of equipment Refractory cast vs. brick Access to motors, sensors, clean outs June 25, 2012
38. What financial considerations are there? Total cost of ownership Life cycle costing, life over time, is it re-buildable Impact of personnel cost to operate less automated systems Impact of electrical bill of total added electrical motor load Fuel type Operating efficiencies June 25, 2012
39. What financial considerations are there? Capital costs vs. amount saved (payback) Must get over (traditional) short term payback periods What is the payback on current system How will you finance Traditional borrowing Energy performance contract Power purchase (lease) Grants, QZAB, other Who assumes risk of performance June 25, 2012
40. What should one do before considering installing a biomass boiler? Do you intend to use the building for another 20-30 years Will the existing HVAC system adapt to biomass Fuel type and distance to multiple suppliers Do you have the personal to operate and maintain June 25, 2012
41. Questions?Thank You! June 25, 2012