Green Concept

GreenEngine explained

The fast gasification technology GreenEngine, developed by ENERTECGREEN, is one of the very few 1–5 MW gasification technologies in the world whose efficiency has been commercially proven. The gasifier created by Enertecgreen has shown the best productivity among similar technologies in the world.

 

Higher efficiency, lower costs, and the widest solid biomass usage possibilities make GreenEngine the leader among other small and medium biomass gasification technologies.

GreenEngine gasifier

GreenEngine differs from other biomass gasifiers with its conceptually new hybrid technology. This technology eliminates the main drawbacks of the gasification process – formation of tar in the gas and ash fusion in high-temperature areas – all the while ensuring a stable production process and high efficiency.

 

  • The gasifier developed by Enertecgreen has shown the best productivity in the world among similar technologies.
  • In its first year, the cogeneration plant was in operation for more than 6,500 engine hours, and 8,000 hours per year will be surpassed in the near future, significantly exceeding the average uptime of other available renewable resource technologies.
  • The unit’s electrical efficiency, in combination with a modern gas engine, is as high as 30%, and reaching the 40% mark is planned within the next 2 years through further research and development.
  • The overall efficiency of the GreenEngine technology already exceeds 80% today.

 

Enertecgreen is constantly growing and investing in further technological research. In 2010, after obtaining funding for support of new technologies from the Climate Change Financial Instrument, development of a new, more efficient technology was started in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment and the Latvian Environmental Investment Fund with an aim of reaching 1 MW of electric power. Testing of the new gasifier was commenced in the end of 2011, and we will soon be able to begin fulfilling new orders.

GreenEngine in action

The technology developed by Enertecgreen makes it possible to produce energy with fuels not usable in traditional biomass gasifiers – biomass pellets with high ash content, straw, grain, peat, rice hulls, sugarcanes, poultry manure, and other types of biomass not currently being used.  Moreover, this technology allows producing energy even when other green technologies, such as those based on solar or wind power, cannot – at night and in windless weather.

 

The new approach incorporates a proven method of tar removal – a two-stage gasification reactor with separate areas for pyrolysis and tar reduction. 

Technological process

1. The process begins in the fuel storage and dosage tanks.

 

2. By using a conveyor belt, pellets are precisely dosed and moved to the gasification reactor.

 

3. The gasification reactor consists of two low-temperature and high-temperature zones.


4. Each zone has a controlled air supply, which is constantly being adjusted to regulate fluctuations of the fuel’s properties (moisture level, ash content, density, fractions, etc.) that can directly affect the oxidation and reduction reactions. The temperature of gas inside the reactor can go above 1150° C (2100° F), however without exceeding the ash fusion temperature, which depends on the particular type of fuel used.

 

5. The produced gas is initially cooled down in air heat exchangers to 700° C (1300° F).

 

6. The gas is then cooled to 100° C (210° F) in water heat exchangers.

 

7. In the gas filtration process, tar and small solid particles are removed.

8. Ash is collected in special containers. A filter stops tar and solid waste particles larger than 5 micrometers. As a result, the obtained gas is suitable for an internal combustion engine.


9. To prevent water condensation, the gas is cooled down to 30° C (86° F) and then heated up again. The pure condensate is directed back to the reactor.


10. The gas is diverted to the internal combustion engine connected with the generator for generation of electric power.