Wood chips
Chipped woody biomass in the form of pieces with a defined particle
size produced by mechanical treatment with wood chipers. (Wood chips have a sub-rectangular shape with a
length of between 5 and 50 mm). In order to burn wood chips, they must first be dried, DRAIG bulk dry the chips by using some of the excess heat from combustion fed back to the drying station at the fuel input stage. Increase of moisture content decreases the efficiency of energy production and increases CO in flue gas (incomplete combustion)
Wood pellets
Densified biofuel made from pulverised woody biomass with or
without additives, usually in cylindrical form, of various lengths but
typically 5 to 40 mm, with broken ends. Wood pellets are generally made from compacted sawdust
Wood briquettes
Densified biofuel made with or without additives in cubiform or
cylindrical units, produced by compressing pulverised biomass.
These fuels are preferred, because of the advantages they offer e.g. they are easier to handle and
store, and feeding can be automated.
Wood is a Renewable energy source, it grows with the help of
solar energy and carbon dioxide.
When a tree decomposes it releases as much carbon dioxide (CO2) as when it is burned that means wood is considered as a CO2-neutral fuel
Wood becomes economic as a fuel choice for making electricity, if large quantities of wood are available in the area where the Power station is located. Long transportation distances increase the transport costs and increase the emmissions caused by the transportation.
The March 13, 2009 issue of Science magazine points out that creating thermal and electrical energy with DRAIG advanced wood combustion has been growing quickly throughout Europe. “DRAIG burners release remarkably low quantities of air pollutants and have system-wide thermal efficiencies approaching 100 percent,” the cost of wood fuel is several times cheaper than fossil fuel costs (per unit of energy produced).
'ZERO' Emissions Technology
DRAIG burners operate with Ultra-Low harmful emissions due to our high temperature combustion together with a computer controlled process that continuously moniors the amount of air in the combustion chamber. However, with the addition of one of our Carbon Capture partners, such as Karbonyx, who provide carbon and noxious gas capture technology, we will soon be able to offer truly 'ZERO' Emissions.
Conventional wood burning equipment generally provides too much Oxygen and the free Oxygen (that which is not used in the combustion process) will combine with the Carbon to make Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide it will also combine with the Nitrogen from the air to make Nitrogen Oxide, Sulphur is not generally an issue with wood.
DRAIG's and Karbonyx's Advanced combustion technology, doesnt use air, but uses a pure Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide mix. We continually monitor and adjust the pure Oxygen input to provide exactly 100% of what Oxygen is needed to completely and perfectly burn the wood. Because we are using pure oxygen, there is no Nitrogen that you would get using ambient air, therefore no NOx will be formed. The Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide will be captured by Karbonyx and the covalent bonds between the carbon and the oxygen will be broken. The pure Oxygen will be redirected to input into the combustion chamber, and the carbon will be captured for onward conversion to Graphene and other carbon based products.
As wood starts as a Carbon Neutral fuel, and DRAIG releases no carbon to the atmosphere, we are acually 'NET CARBON NEGATIVE'.
DRAIGS's Power Stations can operate on Anthracite, coal, lignites, wood, wood chips, pelletised wood, waste derived fuels, bio-fuels or bamboo.
The DRAIG Energy Centre is designed to operate in a community setting, providing electricity, whilst at the same time supporting development within the local community.
Wood is readily available in many areas of the globe and DRAIG have many years experience of gasification of solid fuels.
The modern computer based design of the DRAIG Energy Centre means that it requires unskilled personnel to operate the power station.
We require no water for steam production, Draig Energy Centres can be located in areas where there is no water, such as deserts. No other power station offers this flexibility.
Anthracite, Bituminous coal, Lignites and peat, Wood and wood chips, Bio-fuels, waste derived fuels. In fact if it burns - DRAIG can make electricity from it.
DRAIG have been providing combustion equipment and burner solutions across the World since 1951. The basic principles have remained the same whilst the designs have been modernised to deal with 21st Century fuel source requirements. Modern solutions to modern problems.
Growing Bamboo around each power station can provide hundreds of new employment opportunities in each area.
