Development of innovative small (micro)-scale biomass-based CHP technologies (MiniBioCHP)

Research Project, 2014 – 2017

The project is a cooperation between 12 partners in four European countries (Sweden, Austria, Germany & Poland) within the ERA-NET Bioenergy framework. The aim of the joint project is to further develop and test three different technologies for small-scale heat and power production from biofuels. The Swedish part of the project is focused on the development and testing of high-temperature heat-exchangers in applications for externally fired gas turbines in fixed-bed biomass combustion systems up to approximately 100 kW electric. The aim is to make possible an implementation and commercial demonstration of the technology. Chalmers is responsible for the development of the mathematical and numerical models of the conversion of the biomass. Higher efficiencies and higher availabilities in biomass-fuelled gas turbines decrease the consumption of fossil fuels, which lowers the emissions of carbon dioxide. The other technologies include a thermoelectric generator of 25-50 W electric and a micro-ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) of 1 kW electric.