Project description
Reducing corrosion in biomass power plants
As the world moves to alternatives to fossil fuel solutions, the number of power plant boilers combusting biomass is growing. However, a serious problem that biomass plants face is severe corrosion of the boilers. The EU-funded BELENUS project will take a holistic approach to solve this issue. Surface engineering methods will optimise material performance, new welding methods for the coated tubes will improve the quality of boiler components, and an online corrosion monitoring will help evaluate corrosion conditions. The ultimate aim is to enhance biomass conversion efficiency and increase the lifetime of the biomass plant. If successful, the project estimates to lower bioenergy capital and operational expenditures by 5 % and 60 % respectively.
Objective
The primary objective of BELENUS is to lower bioenergy CAPEX and OPEX by an average of 5 and 60% respectively. This will be addressed by preventing or mitigating corrosion as the main limiting factor through a holistic approach to prevent corrosion in the boiler, in particular in superheater (SH) tubes: a) new surface engineering: biomass corrosion highly resistant coatings on creep resistance materials; b) new strategies of welding and bending for coated tubes improving the quality and efficiency of boiler components; and c) new online corrosion monitoring system specifically designed for biomass CHP plants. In addition, the BELENUS solution will impact on other LCOE parameters by improving efficiency in the conversion (up to 42%), increasing a 5% the operational hours of the plant and plant life time (5 years) and reducing the fuel expenditure of the plant by optimising its use and providing flexibility by allowing the use of different types of biomass. Improved performance for high temperature material systems through the technological breakthroughs, will be evaluated and validated an innovative test protocol. Finally, modelling and lifetime prediction tools will be developed and cost analysis and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) undertaken so the optimum materials and coatings are chosen from the durability, economic and environmental perspectives, maximising the sustainability in economic and environmental terms. BELENUS brings together a multidisciplinary consortium comprising the main stakeholders with leading utilities, steel and tube developers, boiler designer and specialized research institutions from across Europe. This synergy allows a direct transfer of results in TRL5 to be obtained in BELENUS as technical base to go further to higher TRL into commercial biomass electric power plants within less than 5 years.
Fields of science
Not validated
Not validated
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectrical engineeringelectric energy
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectrical engineeringpower engineeringelectric power generationcombined heat and power
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuels
- agricultural sciencesagricultural biotechnologybiomass
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
28040 Madrid
Spain