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Southern Company Biomass Co-firing Research

Southern Company Biomass Co-firing Research. Southern Company Participants. Doug Boylan & Steve Wilson Southern Company Bill Zemo Alabama Power Kathy Russell Georgia Power. Switchgrass Co-firing Sponsors and Participants. Southern Company Auburn University EPRI

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Southern Company Biomass Co-firing Research

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  1. Southern Company Biomass Co-firing Research

  2. Southern Company Participants Doug Boylan & Steve Wilson Southern Company Bill Zemo Alabama Power Kathy Russell Georgia Power

  3. Switchgrass Co-firingSponsors and Participants • Southern Company • Auburn University • EPRI • Southern Research Institute • Wilson Farms • Sunbelt Expo • U.S. DOE • McBurney

  4. Plant StaffGadsden and Mitchell

  5. Biomass Co-firing Technologies • Co-milling - mix biomass with coal and introduce into the furnace through the coal handling system • Simple procedure • Reduced capital cost • Reduced transport cost • Considerable system experience • Direct injection - introduce ground biomass pneumatically into the furnace through dedicated burners • Higher co-firing percentages • Direct biomass control

  6. Co-Milling Switchgrass and Coal Coal does not flow when mixed with low percentages of grass

  7. Pellet Co-firing –Potential Advantages • Improved efficiency • Reduced plant capital • Reduced transportation • Reduced labor • Reduced dust

  8. Cubing Setup - Switchgrass farm in Lincoln, AL

  9. Cubes sensitive to • Moisture • Binder type and percentage • Grass type and rate

  10. Mitchell – Cube Combustion • One week of testing completed • Cubes handle and burn fairly well • Serious bunker issues– Rat-holing

  11. Switchgrass Bales Metering Bin Transport Fan Tub grinder Pneumatic Transport Lines Upper Grass Burner Upper Grass Burner Boiler 3 Levels of coal at each corner Lower Grass Burner (not connected) Switchgrass Co-firing Schematic

  12. Gadsden – Co-Firing Facilities

  13. Gadsden – Co-Firing Facilities

  14. Switchgrass Co-firing and Boiler Efficiency (Full Load - 7% by heat input)

  15. Cement and Ash Tests • ASTM specifications exclude biomass ash with coal ash for cement • Conducted tests with University of Alabama in Birmingham to evaluate effect of wood ash on cement properties • Coordinating efforts with ASTM

  16. SCR Catalyst Effects • SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) is NOx emission control device • Catalyst is affected by biomass ash • Pilot study at Plant Gadsden with EPRI

  17. Grass Co-Firing Energy CostPresent

  18. Grass Co-Firing Energy CostFuture

  19. Conclusions • Direct injection with grass was technicalsuccess • Co-firing reduced emissions,but was a little less efficient • Cubes have problems • Grass co-firing cost predictions were about2.6¢/kWh to 3.0¢/kWh higher than coal power • Results suggest a subsidy will be required to make grass co-firing viable for an RPS • Biomass cannot be co-fired at some units for technical and cost reasons at this time • Research is on-going at Southern Company to address these issues

  20. Questions?

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