Page:Innovative Microscale Biomass Gasifier Combined Cooling, Heating, and Power System CEC-500-2021-026.pdf/14

 Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy (Draft 2015)

Project Purpose and Approach

All Power Labs developed the CCHP PP30 Power Pallet, a cost-effective microscale (less than 50 kilowatts [kW]) CCHP system powered by a biomass gasification waste-to-energy system. Biomass gasification is a process that converts biomass into a combustible gas through a thermal conversion process of the carbonaceous materials. This combustible gas can then be used to fuel an internal combustion engine to produce electricity and heat. This innovative CCHP Power Pallet system enables integration of its electrical, heating, and cooling outputs with light industrial, communities, and commercial building applications, reducing natural gas and electricity use.

The goals of this project were to reduce natural gas and electricity consumption and associated costs, mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and advance the technology to help reach statewide energy policy goals and demonstrate a replicable, scalable model for use in the commercial and light industrial sectors.

The researchers installed and tested this pilot system at a community micro-grid facility in a fire-risk community of Malibu in southern California, using wood waste left behind after the 2018 Woolsey fire and walnut shells to power the biomass gasifier CCHP unit.

All Power Labs addressed technical challenges through physical testing and refinement, including the following:


 * The originally selected engine became unavailable for the project. The project team surveyed potential alternatives and conducted qualification testing on multiple engines before selecting an alternative. The final engine selected allowed increased power output (25 kW, up from 18 kW) and improved efficiency from a higher compression ratio.
 * The CHP thermal circuit and related system efficiency experienced some technical challenges. The project team identified and tested several designs of the thermal system to maximize the captured heat at multiple points in the system. The team down selected to a design that incorporated strategically placed thermostats and connected the thermal circuit to a backup radiator that was able to control the heat in case the system overheated. The final design allows operation even when no heat is used by the customer.
 * A new gas filtration system was designed to deal with the changes in gas characteristics in different gas temperature ranges. The resulting hot gas filtration system utilized custom heat exchangers to mine heat from the system to stabilize gas temperature to a range that reduces condensibles (tars) and can more easily be filtered.

The non-technical challenges focused on regulatory, interconnection, and permitting requirements, which were complex, costly, with a long approval process considering the scale of the project installation. Third-party verification of the project benefits was conducted by

The Schatz Energy Research Center that also assisted with knowledge and technology transfer activities. The research Rh