7 Thermal Fuel Options - Jim Gannon, RPS Group

8/13/2019 7 Thermal Fuel Options - Jim Gannon, RPS Group

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Thermal Fuel OptionsThermal Fuel Options

Jim Gannon, Senior Engineer Jim Gannon, Senior Engineer

RPS GroupRPS Group



Thermal Fuel OptionsThermal Fuel OptionsThermal Fuel Options

•• Technical Feasibil ity and Suitabil ity to ProcessTechnical Feasibil ity and Suitabil ity to Process

•• Regulatory Control and Impact on Feasibil ityRegulatory Control and Impact on Feasibil ity

•• Economic Feasibil ityEconomic Feasibil ity

•• Site Requirements, Security of SupplySite Requirements, Security of Supply



– – Natural Gas (Network)Natural Gas (Network)

– – Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)

– – Light, Medium and Heavy Fuel OilLight, Medium and Heavy Fuel Oil

– – Biomass: Woodchip, Wood Pellet, StrawBiomass: Woodchip, Wood Pellet, Straw

– – Waste Derived Fuels: Landfill Gas, Meat andWaste Derived Fuels: Landfi ll Gas, Meat and BonemealBonemeal,,

Refuse Derived Fuels, TallowRefuse Derived Fuels, Tallow

– – Waste Streams: Spent Mushroom Compost, PoultryWaste Streams: Spent Mushroom Compost, Poultry

Litter, Waste Tyres, Waste Plastics, OtherLitter, Waste Tyres, Waste Plastics, Other

Primary Thermal FuelsPrimary Thermal FuelsPrimary Thermal Fuels



– – Process ChangeProcess Change

– – Licence ChangeLicence Change

– – Operating and Fuel CostsOperating and Fuel Costs

– – Security of SupplySecurity of Supply

– – Climate Change Emission AvoidanceClimate Change Emission Avoidance…….NAP 2 Approaching.NAP 2 Approaching

Drivers for Fuel SwitchingDrivers for Fuel SwitchingDrivers for Fuel Switching



– – Suitabili ty to ProcessSuitabili ty to Process

– – Fuel Availabili ty & MarketFuel Availabili ty & Market

– – Resil iency of Gas NetworkResiliency of Gas Network

– – Application to Connect Application to Connect

– – Cost of ConnectionCost of Connection

Natural GasNatural GasNatural Gas



LPGLPGLPG

•• Irish LPG Availability / Market (Irish LPG Availability / Market (Calor Calor Gas/Gas/FlogasFlogas))

•• Propane: Lower Boiling Point, Greater PressurePropane: Lower Boiling Point, Greater Pressurewithin tanks, Better suited to Externalwithin tanks, Better suited to External

Storage/UseStorage/Use

•• Butane: Lower Vapour Pressure, Better Suited toButane: Lower Vapour Pressure, Better Suited tointerior use/storageinterior use/storage

•• Regarded as aRegarded as a ‘‘Clean FuelClean Fuel’’ option.option.

•• Subject toSubject to SevesoSeveso II Directive (LII Directive (Lower ower thresholdthreshold5050 tonnestonnes, Higher 200, Higher 200 tonnestonnes))

•• IS 3213; IS3216 Parts 1 and 2 applicable amongIS 3213; IS3216 Parts 1 and 2 applicable amongothersothers



Light, Medium and Heavy Fuel OilLight, Medium and Heavy Fuel OilLight, Medium and Heavy Fuel Oil

•• Heavy Fuel Oil: Large Processing/CoHeavy Fuel Oil: Large Processing/Co--Ops;Ops;

cheapest oil product; high Sulphur content;cheapest oil product; high Sulphur content;

prepre--heat requirement (most common inheat requirement (most common in

LIEN)LIEN)

•• Medium Fuel Oil: (Heavy Fuel Oil/Gas OilMedium Fuel Oil: (Heavy Fuel Oil/Gas Oil

Mix); Greenhouses/Ships major users, highMix); Greenhouses/Ships major users, high

heat value required to offset costheat value required to offset cost

••Light Fuel Oil; Major users include smallLight Fuel Oil; Major users include smallfactories, light industryfactories, light industry

•• Conversion through Burner Replacement aConversion through Burner Replacement a

commercial exercisecommercial exercise – – Boiler/BurnerBoiler/Burner

Manufacturer or Combustion SpecialistManufacturer or Combustion Specialist•• Warrantee and serviceWarrantee and service

requirements/support vitalrequirements/support vital



Woodchip, Wood Pellet & StrawWoodchip, Wood Pellet & StrawWoodchip, Wood Pellet & Straw

•• General Points:General Points:

– – Carbon Neutral FuelCarbon Neutral Fuel

– – Security of Supply / Indigenous ResourceSecuri ty of Supply / Indigenous Resource

– – High Capital Cost (High Capital Cost ( € €100k/MW at 0100k/MW at 0--5 MW Scale)5 MW Scale)

– – Ongoing Service Provision / MaintenanceOngoing Service Provision / Maintenance

•• Woodchip:Woodchip:

– – Resource Availability and LongResource Availability and Long--Term Prospects (Sawmills,Term Prospects (Sawmills,

Forestry, SRC,Forestry, SRC, WastewoodWastewood))

– – Current MarketCurrent Market

– – HFO at 43,100 kJ/kg; Chip 9,000 kJ/kg approxHFO at 43,100 kJ/kg; Chip 9,000 kJ/kg approx

– – 250kg/cubic metre ~ (e.g. 35m250kg/cubic metre ~ (e.g. 35m33/hr for 15MW plant)/hr for 15MW plant)

– – Cost ImplicationsCost Implications





Woodchip, Wood Pellet & StrawWoodchip, Wood Pellet & StrawWoodchip, Wood Pellet & Straw



Waste Derived FuelsWaste Derived FuelsWaste Derived Fuels•• Landfill GasLandfil l Gas

– – Geographical Location; Size of Landfi ll, ongoing resourceGeographical Location; Size of Landfi ll, ongoing resourceavailability, landfill marketavailabili ty, landfill market

– – Licensing and Transfer Licensing and Transfer

– – Technical Issues (Gas quality, Gas cleaning)Technical Issues (Gas quality, Gas cleaning)

– – Cost ImplicationsCost Implications



Waste Derived FuelsWaste Derived FuelsWaste Derived Fuels

•• Meat andMeat and BonemealBonemeal

– – Approx 20 Meat Rendering Facilities producing Approx 20 Meat Rendering Facilities producing400,000400,000 tpatpa of MBM)of MBM)

– – Majority exported for Incineration/DisposalMajority exported for Incineration/Disposal

– – HFO at 43,100 kJ/kg; MBM 16,000 kJ/kg approxHFO at 43,100 kJ/kg; MBM 16,000 kJ/kg approx

– – Sophisticated Process Controls RequiredSophisticated Process Controls Required – – highhighalkali and chlorine levels, high nitrogen contentalkali and chlorine levels, high nitrogen content

– – Classified as Waste but not Hazardous MaterialClassified as Waste but not Hazardous Material

– – Best suited for coBest suited for co--combustioncombustion -- gate fee agate fee aconsiderationconsideration

– – EdenderryEdenderry Power ExamplePower Example – – ongoing debateongoing debate



Waste Derived FuelsWaste Derived FuelsWaste Derived Fuels•• Tallow:Tallow:

– – Approximately 60,000tpa currently produced (over Approximately 60,000tpa currently produced (over50% uti lised in rendering industry for process heat)50% uti lised in rendering industry for process heat)

– – HFO at 43,100 kJ/kg; Tallow 40,000 kJ/kg (varies)HFO at 43,100 kJ/kg; Tallow 40,000 kJ/kg (varies)

– – Conversion from OilConversion from Oil --fired to Tallow requiresfired to Tallow requiresprovision of atomising burner provision of atomising burner

– – Heated fuel oil required to preHeated fuel oil required to pre--heat and flushheat and flush--outoutlineslines

– – Clean/Polished/Centrifuged Tallow requiredClean/Polished/Centrifuged Tallow required

– – TallowTallow fueltankfueltank andand andand heated/insulated fuel linesheated/insulated fuel lineswill ensure viscosity suitable for atomisationwill ensure viscosity suitable for atomisation

– – Competition for fuel supply inCompetition for fuel supply in biofuelsbiofuels industryindustry

– – Suitable for dual fuel combustion with oi ls and gasSuitable for dual fuel combustion with oils and gas



Waste StreamsWaste StreamsWaste Streams

•• Spent Mushroom Compost:Spent Mushroom Compost:

– – Low calori fic value, best suited for coLow calori fic value, best suited for co--combustion, economics basedcombustion, economics based

on gateon gate--feefee

•• Poultry Litter:Poultry Litter:

– – Testing in University of Limerick, fluidised bed combustion expeTesting in University of Limerick, fluidised bed combustion expensive,nsive,

economics questionable at large industry scaleeconomics questionable at large industry scale

•• Waste Tyres/Plastics:Waste Tyres/Plastics:

– – Best sui ted for coBest suited for co--combustioncombustion

– – Licensing and Storage controlsLicensing and Storage controls

– – CoCo--incinerationincineration



Thank YouThank You

[email protected] [email protected]

Thermal Fuel OptionsThermal Fuel OptionsThermal Fuel Options

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7 Thermal Fuel Options - Jim Gannon, RPS Group