Biomass CHP Plant Güssing – Using Gasification for Power Generation

ABSTRACT: The combined heat and power (CHP) plant has a fuel capacity of 8 MW and an electrical output of about 2 MWel with an electrical efficiency of about 25 %. Wood chips with a water content of 20- 30 % are used as fuel for the FICFB (Fast Internal Circulating Fluidised Bed) gasification process, which is an innovative process to produce a high grade synthesis gas from solid fuels. The gasification zone is separated from the combustion zone using two fluidised bed reactors. The bed material circulates between these two zones to serve as a heat carrier for the gasification process. The necessary heat is obtained by burning remaining charcoal or additional fuel in the combustion zone. Steam is used as a gasification agent, to yield a nearly nitrogen free product gas with high calorific value of 12 MJ/Nm dry gas. The start up of the plant was in January 2002, until December 2002 the gasifier and the gas cleaning system reached 3000 hours of operation, together with the gas engine 1050 hours of operation could be reached