Objective Objectives and Problems to be resolved: The use of bio fuels in dedicated plants or as a secondary fuel in coal co-combustion are feasible options for effective CO2 reduction. However, these fuels can lead to significantly increased deactivation of SCR-DeNOx-catalysts in the flue gas cleaning system of power plants. The consequences are high follow-up costs as well as higher emissions of NOx and trace elements. Hence, the deactivation constitutes a major obstacle for an increasing share of bio fuels in (co-)combustion. The project therefore exploits complementary experience to investigate fundamental processes in SCR-DeNOx-catalysts during (co-)combustion of biomass and bio waste fuels such as wood, straw, peat and sewage sludge. The main objective of the project is to evaluate and investigate the transformation and deactivation mechanisms concerning alkalis, heavy metals, and phosphor and derive optimised regeneration techniques. Description of the work: Within the project consortium experience of power plant operators from former deactivation tests using wood and straw for (co-)combustion in the Scandinavian countries and observations made at co-combusting sewage sludge in Germany are summarised and completed by the knowledge of a catalyst producer. Additional input is given through knowledge in full-scale regeneration methods. Furthermore, two research institutes will perform systematic studies with synthetic and combustion simulating flue gases in lab-and bench-scale test facilities using advanced measurement techniques with the aim to identify and partly quantify the main mechanisms and parameters that lead to deactivation and mercury oxidation. The work is focussed on the influence of single parameters, relevant combustion conditions, flue gas composition and conversion as well as the use of additives on the occurrence of poisoning elements in the gaseous and particle bound phase. Feasible changes in catalytic structure or composition are studied. The work of one partner considers the determination of mercury oxidation mechanisms at standard DCR-DeNOx-catalysts to suggest an increase oxidation rate for effective removal of mercury in the down stream gas cleaning units. Combustion conditions or fuel blends that should be avoided will also be determined. The available regeneration methods are optimised. Full scale tests at four plants for wood, straw and sewage sludge (co-) combustion equipped with standard and "bio-optimised" catalysts provide different flue gas compositions for the tests and will be used to validate results and prove their full-scale applicability. Expected Results and Exploitation Plans: If the follow-up costs of catalyst deactivation cannot be significantly reduced, they will become a considerable negative argument for the use of bio fuels in large-scale power plants. The aim of this project is to help plant operators and utilities to calculate the risk related to the use of specific bio fuels and therefore minimise these inestimable costs. In the next years the US will become a huge market for SCR technology. Experts expect problems similar to bio fuel co-combustion due to the composition of US coals. Since these are sub-bituminous, higher alkali and trace element content will promote catalytic deactivation. An increased knowledge on process parameters promoting deactivation combined with the development of resistant and optimised catalysts as well as optimised regeneration processes will enhance the competitiveness in non-European markets. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrytransition metalsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfossil energycoalnatural scienceschemical sciencescatalysisengineering and technologyindustrial biotechnologybiomaterialsbiofuelsagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesforestry Programme(s) FP5-EESD - Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Energy, environment and sustainable development, 1998-2002" Topic(s) 1.1.4.-5. - Key action Cleaner Energy Systems, including Renewable Energies Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator UNIVERSITAET STUTTGART EU contribution No data Address Pfaffenwaldring 23 70569 Stuttgart Germany See on map Total cost No data Participants (7) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all E.ON ENGINEERING GMBH Germany EU contribution No data Address Bergmannglueckstrasse 41-43 45896 Gelsenkirchen See on map Total cost No data ELSAM ENGINEERING A/S Denmark EU contribution No data Address Kraftvaerksvej 53 7000 Fredericia See on map Total cost No data ENERGIE BADEN-WUERTTEMBERG INGENIEURE GMBH Germany EU contribution No data Address Ossietzkystrasse 8 70174 Stuttgart See on map Total cost No data ENVICA KAT GMBH Germany EU contribution No data Address Bargloyer weg 12 27793 Wildeshausen See on map Total cost No data HALDOR TOPSOEE A/S Denmark EU contribution No data Address Nymoellevej 55 2800 Lyngby See on map Total cost No data TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF DENMARK Denmark EU contribution No data Address 229,building 229 2800 Lyngby See on map Total cost No data Vattenfall Utveckling AB Sweden EU contribution No data Address Aelvkarlebylaboratoriet 814 26 Aelvkarleby See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data