The study titled “Exploring the Potential of Biogas Enriched with Hydrogen in Steam-Turbine Mini-Thermal Power Plants” was conducted by a team of researchers.
The research focuses on the application of biogas enriched with hydrogen as a fuel source in mini-thermal power plants to enhance efficiency and environmental sustainability.
The main objective of this research is to probe the viability of using biogas enriched with hydrogen to fuel a 1 MW mini-thermal power plant that utilizes a steam turbine. The study aims to assess various compositions of gaseous fuels, specifically focusing on the hydrogen enrichment levels ranging from 15% to 45%. The goal is to achieve effective waste recycling, energy conversion, and production of organic fertilizers while analyzing the environmental impact.
Fuel Composition and Energy Efficiency
The research examines five different compositions of gaseous fuels with varying hydrogen content. The findings suggest that using gas with a hydrogen content of up to 15% is most effective for quick recycling with minimal hydraulic retention time. This allows for processing a substantial amount of waste—between 349.87 and 362.21 tons daily—and produces high-purity hydrogen that can be contained in cylinders. The steam boiler, operating at 95% efficiency, supports a 1 MW steam turbine for electricity generation.
The study reports that while burning fuel with a 45% hydrogen content results in the least amount of flue gas production, it is not feasible due to a shortage of hydrogen. Furthermore, increasing hydrogen content raises fuel consumption in the boiler. Nevertheless, combining biological conversion with hydrogen enrichment of biogas offers notable advantages, including conserving resources and protecting the environment, contributing to a sustainable circular economy.
