Wood Gasification
Description
Wood Gasification treats wood to produce a gas which can fire a turbine to generate electricity. In combination with a steam turbine, it a more efficient way of generating electricity from wood than with a steam turbine alone (the conventional technology). It is suitable for small-scale applications, eg small factories, sawmills, and remote locations.
Articles
Investing in Renewable Energy
Colin Stucley, Enecon Pty Ltd, 27th September, 2001
Combined Cycle Power Generation with Wood Gasification
Work is underway in the northern hemisphere to prove commercially the concept of wood gasification and electricity generation via a gas turbine and a steam turbine working together in a “combined cycle”. A conventional wood-fired power plant may capture 20-25% of the energy in the wood as electricity, however an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plant promises recovery levels of 40% or more.
Green electricity from wood
CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products, 11 October 2001
The Green Gasifier Generator project aims to produce electricity in the 30-200 kW range. Wood gasification breaks down complex wood compounds into smaller volatile compounds which can be burnt in microturbines to create electricity.
Green Gasifier Generators could be located in remote and regional areas close to sustainably produced biomass resources and provide a constant supply of renewable energy.
Green Gasifier Generators are expected to be competitive with electricity delivered over long distances from established generators, where additional transmission capacity would need to be installed and where remote or regional electricity is produced locally using diesel fossil fuel.
Converting Tree Waste into Electricity
CSIRO, 5 January 1998
CSIRO researchers are developing a gasification system that burns chips derived from wood residues and thinnings to drive a micro turbine generating electricity in the 30 to 200 kW range, a scale which would suit homesteads, farms and small factories.
2003.04.14