GHP gas turbine fuelled directly by a biomass gasifier

Overall Objective: A small (40 kWE) experimental facility comprising a gas turbine (GT) fired directly by a pressurised biomass-fuelled grate gasifier coupled to a cyclone combustor, will be designed and assembled. This will be representative og technology for the range 5-250 kWe. A succesful outcome to the project will allow a pre-production prototype Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant to be developed. Turbine deposition will be minimised by control of gasifier and combustor operating parameters, supported by 3-D modelling of particulate flows. A control system capable of handling rapid transients will be developed and tested on a linear plant simulation model. Specific objectives: The prime objectives are to establish the deposition, corrosion and performance parameters for a range of biomass fuels, define permissible operating temperatures (and hence efficiencies), develop a partical plant control system and produce an outline design for a pre-production prototype plant capable of sustained economic operation. The choice of biomass fuel is open but will be based on the use of clean prepared wood which is expected to be the most benign, both from the point of view of ash quantily and chemical content. The specific objective targeted for the experimental facility and for this project are:- 1) Turbine inlet temperature: 850 deg. C, exhaust heat: 600 deg. C. 2) Gasifier/combustor pressure of 3 bar(a) with gas leakage less than 2%. 3) Operation with four wood based fuels. 4) Whole plant control system capable of coping with transient and fault conditions (load disconnections etc.). 5) Less than 10 ppm particulates of maximum size 5 micron turbine entry. 6) Alkali content in the gas stream