Biomass Cogeneration Air Circuit for Electrical Yield

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Solution Overview

Problem

Small-scale biomass cogeneration installations face high investment costs and low overall production yields, with net electrical production limited to less than 20% for units generating less than 3MW of electricity, making them economically unfeasible under current regulatory conditions.

Innovation Solution

A thermal biomass combustion installation with a boiler, smoke evacuation circuit, thermal oil circuit, organic heat transfer fluid circuit, and air circuit, featuring a compressor, secondary exchanger, and auxiliary turbine to maximize electricity generation while maintaining heat recovery efficiency, characterized by specific exchanger configurations and heat exchange processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If small-scale biomass cogeneration installations are implemented, then local renewable energy production is achieved, but net electrical production yield is limited to less than 20%

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocal renewable energy productionVSAvoidnet electrical production yield
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the thermal energy extraction process into multiple stages with separate heat exchangers operating at different temperature levels. The first heat exchanger recovers heat at higher temperatures while the second heat exchanger recovers heat at lower temperatures, allowing each component to be optimized independently and achieving over 20% electrical yield through cumulative heat recovery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters by implementing dual heat exchanger systems that operate at different temperature levels and flow rates. This parameter optimization allows maximum thermal energy extraction at each stage, pushing the electrical production yield beyond the 20% threshold while maintaining local biomass utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If small-scale biomass cogeneration installations are implemented, then decentralized energy supply is achieved, but overall production yield remains low at 65-75%

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecentralized energy supplyVSAvoidoverall production yield
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent ensures continuous useful action by implementing a dual heat exchanger system that extracts thermal energy at multiple stages without interruption. The first heat exchanger operates continuously at higher temperatures while the second continues at lower temperatures, maintaining continuous thermal recovery and pushing overall production yield above 75%.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

By segmenting the heat recovery into two continuous processes operating at different temperature levels, the system maintains uninterrupted thermal energy extraction. This segmented continuous approach allows each heat exchanger to operate at optimal conditions continuously, achieving sustained high overall production yields.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If conventional single heat exchanger systems are used, then device complexity is low, but thermal energy recovery is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat exchange system structureVSAvoidthermal energy recovery
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the thermal energy recovery process into two distinct heat exchanger units operating in sequence. The first heat exchanger captures high-temperature thermal energy while the second recovers lower-temperature heat, minimizing energy losses that would occur in a single exchanger system. This segmentation reduces energy loss more than it increases device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary thermal fluid system that transfers heat between the combustion chamber and the two heat exchangers. This intermediary approach allows efficient thermal energy transfer and recovery at multiple stages, significantly reducing energy losses while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized heat exchange components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If high electrical production is targeted, then investment cost increases, but current regulations require efficiency greater than 50%

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical productionVSAvoidinstallation cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes operational parameters including heat exchanger surface areas, flow rates, and temperature differentials to achieve over 50% efficiency. By carefully adjusting these parameters, the system achieves high electrical production with moderate investment, as the parameter optimization allows existing components to operate at peak efficiency rather than requiring expensive oversized equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by optimizing each heat exchanger for its specific temperature range and thermal load conditions. The first heat exchanger is optimized for high-temperature heat recovery while the second is optimized for lower-temperature recovery, allowing each component to be cost-effective for its specific function while collectively achieving the required 50%+ efficiency for attractive electricity purchase rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution significantly increases electrical production and overall efficiency, achieving an electrical efficiency exceeding 21% and total efficiency of 96.4%, thereby enhancing the financial viability of small-scale biomass combustion installations.

Implementation Method 1

a thermal oil circuit in thermal exchange with the smoke evacuation circuit at at least one primary exchanger upstream of the smoke condenser

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

an evaporator in thermal exchange with the thermal oil circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

an organic heat transfer fluid circuit with change of state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 4

at least one main turbine driving electricity generation means

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbine expansion: Turbine

Implementation Method 5

a condenser; and a pump

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 6

the condenser puts the organic heat transfer fluid circuit into thermal exchange with the hot water recovery circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 7

a compressor; at least one secondary exchanger in heat exchange with the smoke evacuation circuit upstream of said primary exchanger

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 8

at least one secondary exchanger in heat exchange with the smoke evacuation circuit upstream of said primary exchanger

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 9

an auxiliary turbine also driving electricity generation means

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbine expansion: Turbine

Implementation Method 10

a smoke condenser; the condenser puts the organic heat transfer fluid circuit into thermal exchange with the hot water recovery circuit downstream of the flue gas condenser

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Data Source

PatentEP3022409B1Thermal plant for the combustion of biomass in cogeneration, and method of heat transfer
Publication Date: 2017.08.30 ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE
  • EP3022409B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3022409B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3022409B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a thermal biomass combustion installation (1) comprising: - a boiler (2), - a smoke discharge circuit (3) in heat exchange with a hot water recovery circuit (100) at a smoke condenser (31); - a thermal oil circuit (4) in heat exchange with the smoke discharge circuit (3) at least at a primary exchanger (40) upstream from the smoke condenser (31); - a state-switching organic heat transfer fluid circuit (10); the installation being characterised in that it further comprises an air circuit (20) on which are successively positioned: - a compressor (201); - at least one secondary exchanger (202a, 202b) in heat exchange with the smoke discharge circuit (4) upstream from said primary exchanger (40); - an auxiliary turbine (203) also driving electricity generating means (13b); the air leaving the auxiliary turbine (203) being injected into the smoke discharge circuit (3) downstream from said primary exchanger (40).