Optimization of Energy Recovery from Biomass 1999-01-2714

The problem of energy recovery from biomass by means of a combustion process, while assuming more and more importance, accordingly with the Kyoto Protocol, is requiring as well processes able to optimize efficiencies. Such optimization should not only be related to possible plant solutions, but should also take into relevant consideration the characteristics of biomasses used, which cause, through the combustion process, different problems mainly of the environmental kind and not of easy solution. The present paper analyzes such problems by keeping in due account the different factors capable of influencing at the end the adopted solution. Particularly, the possibility to employ complex cycles is discussed with reference to both the kind of fuel employed and the plant size. It is also emphasized how the possible energy costs can condition the optimum choice, mainly if influenced by binding rules. At last, it is shown how a suitable choice of the operative parameters allows to achieve final solutions capable to guarantee a very efficient employment of this kind of combustion.