Xcel Energy Inc. · NASDAQ:XEL
Xcel Energy — Technical Presentation (December 2007)
6 slides from Xcel Energy's technical presentation, Dec 11, 2007
Slide 1: Development of a Biomass Fueled Stirling Engine for Combined Heat and Power Production
Development of a Biomass Fueled Stirling Engine for Combined Heat and Power Production Final Report to Xcel Robert C. Brown Iowa State University December 11, 2007 Objective Demonstrate the integration of a biomass- fueled gasifier with a 55 kWe Stirling engine for the production of electricity.
Slide 2: Approach and Workplan
Approach The original approach was to integrate custom- designed biomass gasifier and gas clean-up system with a commercially available 55 Kw Stifling engine. Workplan ¯ Acquire a 55 kWe commerical STM Stirling engine ¯ Integrate the gasifier with the engine ¯ Evaluate system performance
Slide 3: Barriers that emerged; Technical Progress
Barriers that emerged ¯ Stirling engine manufacturer revealed that engine could not operate on particulate loading expected from gasifier (10 g/m3) - Response: Develop high temperature fabric filter Stirling engine manufacturer could not deliver engine during first year of the project as originally
Slide 4: Technical Progress
Technical Progress ¯ Particulate filtration tests with a barrier filter constructed of FB700 high temperature fabric manufactured by 3M typically removed greater than 99% of particulate matter from the producer gas. This level of filtration exceeded the requirements of Stirling engines. Technical Pr
Slide 5: Project Benefits and Lessons Learned
Project Benefits The project demonstrated that it is possible to remove sufficient particulate matter from producer gas using filters fabricated from commercially available high temperature woven fabrics, thus supporting the technically feasibility of integrating a biomass gasifier with a Stirling e
Slide 6: Usefulness of Project Findings
Usefulness of Project Findings Although the project had to be modified becauses of the inability of Stirling engine manufacturers to provide a viable engine of commercially significant size, the project demonstrated that commercially available particulate filtration technology can provide producer g