Indirectly-fired gas turbine to produce biomass power
Dresser-Rand's indirectly-fired KG2-3 G gas turbine permits the use of coal, wood and other low cost fuels.
Dresser-Rand, a supplier of rotating equipment for the oil, gas, petrochemical, and process industries, will provide Max Bögl Group with an indirectly fired KG 2-3 G gas turbine for its new biomass cogeneration plant in its Bavaria facility in Germany. Scheduled to begin operation in spring 2013, the new cogeneration plant, built by Gammel Engineering GmbH, replaces a gas-fired steam and heat process and will save 3.2 MM m3 of natural gas annually, company sources said.
In an ordinary gas turbine, the pressurized gas leaving the compressor is heated by internal combustion before entering the turbine. The indirect-fired gas turbine uses a heat exchanger, instead of a combustion chamber, to increase the temperature of the pressurized air flowing between the compressor and the turbine. Since the combustion products do not go through the turbine, the indirect-fired concept permits the direct use of coal, wood, or other low-cost, high-ash fuels that would foul an ordinary gas turbine. The indirect gas turbine technology eliminates the problems involved in coal burning by the use of an externally fired ceramic heater.
Max Bögl’s aim is to produce electricity with low emissions at its Bavarian plant. According to the company, heat from the biomass cogeneration plant will be used to produce 4.5 tonnes of saturated steam which, in turn, will be used to produce concrete for pre-fabricated components and for electricity conversion. A significant part of the clean, hot air from the turbine cycle will also be used in the asphalt production process and grinding plant.
Chips made from untreated wood, which will come from local agriculture and foresting farms or short rotation forestry, will be used as a CO2-neutral fuel. By producing 2 MW of energy using renewable sources, Max Bögl will receive compensation from the German Renewable Act, which provides incentives to companies that produce energy using renewable sources.
