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INADCO Offers Moisture Readings
INADCO Moisture Measurement BV offers its new Moisturemeter II for continuous measurements of biomass moisture levels and for real time information on the calorific values of the biomass used.
Since 2000 INADCO has been a market leader in Europe for equipment that measures the bulk density of growing media like potting soil and peat. Initially the INADCO moisture measurement technology was developed to be used in these potting soil and peat markets and led to the development and introduction of the Moisturemeter I in 2006.
Based on the principles of the Moisturemeter I, the Moisturemeter II is a new innovation that makes the technology available for the wide range of biomass materials used and the more industrial uses of biomass like power plants.
Currently biomass installations face the problem of changing moisture percentages. The higher the moist percentage in the biomass the lower the energy yield will be in the boiler since the water in the biomass requires the installation to generate more energy for its heating and evaporation. For the highest yield possible the controls for the combustion process in the boiler always need to be adjusted when moisture percentages change. If controls are not adjusted properly the yield of the biomass will go down and the emissions of carbon monoxide and NOx will increase.
The new Moisturemeter II is equipped with a conveyor belt and has an integrated belt scale. As a result the Moisturemeter II can measure biomass while it is being fed into the boiler. This in combination with state-of-the-art laser sensor technology guarantees instant information such as: mass flow; flow of solids; flow of water; moisture percentage, actual and within batch; temperature of the product; total mass, per batch and lifetime; bulk density, actual and within batch; real time calorific value of the dry matter (in combination with the fuel value).
INADCO CEO Theo Coolen states: “It is very exciting that the technology that made us a market leader in other markets has now evolved into the most accurate biomass measuring equipment on the market. We are very enthusiastic to be able to assist the biomass industry with our expertise and solutions in realizing a higher output at a lower cost both from a financial and an environmental perspective.” Visit inadco.nl.
Chipper Features Slewable Conveyor
Reliable and cost-effective, the new robust heavy-duty chipper Doppstadt DH 910 SA-B reduces log and root timber, branches and wooden residues to wood chips. Consistent, high-quality wood chips are produced from softwood logs up to 900 mm diameter. In the case of hardwood it is possible to chip logs up to 700 mm. Instead of a discharge arm, this chipper discharges the material by means of a slewable rear conveyor thus achieving highest throughput capacities and reducing the fine fraction to a minimum. The standard swivelling range is 60°, extendable to 90°.
The final wood chip size is determined by the feeding speed and by different quickly replaceable screening segments. The heavy and solid full-steel rotor provided with chipping knives guarantees a reliable and high chipping output. An elevated re-shredding screen and a rigid cutter bar ensure a uniform wood chip size. The chipping knives can be re-sharpened. They are adjusted from outside the machine.
All the control elements are joined on one central panel. A robust steel construction ensures stability and a long service life. The chipper housing is provided with large protection doors on all sides and central lubrication bars facilitating the access for maintenance operations.
The 3-axle semitrailer chassis of the mobile chipper is equipped with ABS and it can also be towed by wheel loaders or large stackers. After the arrival at the place of operation the machine is ready for use in a matter of minutes and it produces 350 m3 per hour, approximately 10 times the loading capacity of a 7.5 ton truck. Of course the throughput depends on the material and the loading method. The precision chipper is driven by a Mercedes-Benz 8-cylinder V-engine. With 450 kW engine output at 2000 rpm it is designed for failure-free continuous operation. Visit doppstadt.com.
Track Grinder Provides Powerful Reduction
The track-mounted mobile Doppstadt AK 635 K grinds log and root timber, waste wood and green waste. A 2.5 ton flail drum processes the material quickly and consistently at up to 1140 rpm. First the material is caught at the impact edge and then it is grinded at the baffle plate equipped with Hardox teeth. The operator determines the final material structure and grain size by means of the fine shredding basket in the discharge area of the shredding chamber. For different materials and shredding structures there are baskets with 30-400 mm mesh size available. They can be replaced in a matter of minutes.
The material is transported depending on the load to the shredding chamber by means of the scraper floor and the aggressive feed-in drum. This process is protected by an automatic reversing system. The electro-hydraulic scraper floor speed control enables an optimal utilization of the engine output thus keeping the throughput capacity on the highest possible level all the time. The operator regulates the speed manually by means of a potentiometer thus adjusting the conveying speed to the material. The engine of the grinder achieves a very high torque at an optimal course of torque. Visit doppstadt.com.
Optimizing Biomass Moisture Control
Moisture content (MC) of biomass received at a pellet plant varies widely. Since the production of high quality pellets depends on finding and maintaining the optimum biomass MC entering the pelletizer, it is important that the MC control system be up to the challenge. Unfortunately, there are three main issues with currently-used MC control systems: (1) the MC analyzer must be located downstream of the dryer; (2) a feed forward signal of the incoming evaporative load is needed but is expensive and problematic; and (3) at times the exhaust temperature is used as a surrogate for MC and controlled to a setpoint value that produces the MC under ideal operation. However, as soon as there is a change in incoming evaporative load, a new setpoint is required that produces the target MC. Since there is no method for automatically adjusting the setpoint, this method is not effective (see Figure 1).
Derivation of the mathematical model, MC= K1(∆T)p – K2/Sq, that relates the biomass MC exiting the dryer to the temperature drop (∆T) of hot air across the dryer and to (S) the evaporative load provided solutions for the three problems listed above: (1) an inside-the-dryer MC sensor was invented that consistently reduces the dead time and thus the MC variation at least 30% (Figure 1 illustrates the advantage of moving the MC sensor inside-the-dryer to reduce dead time and thus the MC variation); (2) a simple, inside-the-dryer evaporative load feed-forward signal is now available; and (3) the delta T setpoint that produces the target MC can be continuously re-calculated following evaporative load changes to the dryer.
By combining these three solutions in the patented Delta T system, the biomass MC variation exiting the dryer and fed to the pelletizers is reduced at least 30%. Consequently, the optimum biomass MC for pelletizing can now be easily maintained with at least 30% less MC variation.
Visit Drying Technology, Inc., moisturecontrols.com.
CBI Expands Workforce
Continental Biomass Industries announced several hirings and promotions.
Bill Dicey has been hired as Service Manager for CBI. He has spent the last 20 years in parts and service management.
Wayne Pearson has come on as Materials Manager, bringing more than 25 years of materials management background predominantly in the capital equipment industry.
Nate Eskeland has been promoted to Parts Manager. He is in his 11th year with CBI, eight of which were in the parts department and three in outside sales.
Tim Griffing has returned to CBI as a Stationary Systems Sales Engineer covering North America. He has more than 20 years of experience in the design and sales of stationary systems for the wide range of markets that CBI serves.
Anders Ragnarsson, President of CBI, comments, “The wealth of experience and industry knowledge these people have makes them key additions to the CBI family. We view these appointments as a sign of CBI’s commitment to being the best in our industry.”
Bagging Machine Marks Milestone
Premier Tech Chronos, a business unit of Premier Tech’s Industrial Equipment Group, celebrated the sale of the 300th FFS Series Form Fill and Seal bagging machine. The Canadian company Transfobec Mauricie is the new owner of the machine.
Transfobec Mauricie purchased a Premier Tech Chronos FFS-200 bagging machine, a reserve supply and a VF-2300 volumetric feeder to meet its bagging needs for the production of a new type of specialized mulch.
The FFS Series bagging machines have long been recognized for their reliability and durability. The FFS systems help reduce the costs of packaging materials while offering excellent performance and unmatched longevity. One of the first machines in the series, sold in 1997, is still in operation and has packaged more than 1,500 bags of peat per hour since its installation.
Boiler Plant Bound For Hungary
Valmet will supply a complete boiler plant to Hamburger Hungaria Power in Dunaujvaros, Hungary. The value of the order is EUR 50 million.
The new power plant will produce electricity and steam for Hamburger Hungaria’s containerboard mill that operates two paper machines. It will replace the existing gas-fired boiler plant that produces steam only, and enable Hamburger Hungaria Power to use a wide range of solid fuels, biomass, coal as well as containerboard rejects and sludge in energy production instead of natural gas. The new boiler plant will go on stream by the end of 2015.
“Hamburger Hungaria has a state-of-the-art paper production, but neither the cogeneration potential, nor the energy content of its waste have been utilized so far,” says Dr. Szikla, Managing Director of Hamburger Hungaria Power.
Orders Announced For France, UK Plants
Metso has been awarded four orders from the CNIM group to supply automation to greenfield plants in France and the UK, including greenfield waste-to-energy plants in Battlefield, Shropshire, and in Leeds (UK), and two greenfield biomass-to-energy plants in Estrées-Mons (France) and in Ridham Dock (UK). The CNIM group acts as a contractor in all these projects.
Metso will supply an extensive Metso DNA automation system for all process controls and plant information management. The integrated process automation system covers all plant processes from boilers to turbines.
The new biomass-to-energy plant in Estrées-Mons is owned and operated by Nerea, a subsidiary of the French group Akuo Energy. Once on line at the end of 2014, it will have an electric output of 13 MW, powering 25,000 households. The plant is part of France’s national green energy program CRE, which aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and curb climate change. It will also supply 25 tons of heat per hour to the food industry.
The Ridham Dock combined heat-and-power biomass power plant owned by the German Mannheim energy company (MVV Energie) is located 30 km southeast of London and is designed to have an electrical output of 23 MW. It will use about 172,000 tons of old timber per year to generate almost 188 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year, enough to cover the electricity needs of 60,000 houses. The plant is scheduled to be operational in spring 2015.
Established in 15 countries, the CNIM Group designs, develops and produces turnkey industrial solutions with high technological content and offers expert research, expertise and operations services in various fields.
Adjacent the DDC, a 1,800 square feet Training Center is also available for sales, customer testing meetings and conferences. Private office space, phones and wireless internet access is available in the Training Center.
Anyone who sends in raw materials to be tested on TerraSource Global equipment will also be invited to visit the office and watch the testing live.
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