Second Round of Studies on Advanced Power Generation Based on Combined Cycle Using a Single High-Pressure Fluidized Bed Boiler and Consuming Biomass

Abstract

Following a preliminary study of power generation processes consuming sugar-cane bagasse; this second round indicates the possibility of almost doubling the current efficiency presently obtained in conventional mills. A combined cycle uses highly pressurized fluidized bed boiler to provide steam above critical temperature to drive steam-turbine cycle while the flue-gas is injected into gas turbines. The present round also shows that gains over usual BIG/GT (Biomass In-tegrated Gasification/Gas Turbine) are very likely mainly due to the practicality of feeding the biomass as slurry that can be pumped into the pressurized boiler chamber. Such would avoid the cumbersome cascade feeding of the fibrous bio-mass, usually required by other processes. The present stage assumes slurry with 50% added water. Future works will concentrate on thicker slurries, if those could be achieved. All studies apply a comprehensive simulator for boilers and gasifiers [CSFMB™ or CeSFaMB™] and a process simulator (IPES) to predict the main features of the steam and gas tur-bine branches.