CARE is a SME [Small to Medium Sized Enterprise], that was formed in 1996 to provide a specialist service in the bio-energy sector which is widely recognised as a rapidly expanding sector with considerable growth potential for fuels, chemicals and renewable products. Our key expertise is technical and engineering services in thermal conversion systems. We are one of the few companies in the UK with direct technology experience in gasification, pyrolysis and combustion for heat, power, renewable chemicals and products.
Conversion and Resource Evaluation Ltd. have experience in projects to the following commercial sectors and organisations:
- Engineering companies in the UK and world-wide [public and private]
- European Commission [DG VI, DG XII, DG XVII]
- UK DTI
- UK Gas utilities
- International Energy Agencies
- Metallurgical industries
- Coal carbonisation industry
- Private research institutes
- Banks
- UK Water utilities
CARE Ltd. can offer a wide range of services in the biomass area. The following are examples of what we can offer:
- Detailed chemical engineering and process design of biomass gasification and biomass fast pyrolysis systems from feedstock handling to end use for power, heat and products
- Organisation and evaluation of biomass and waste feedstock testing by pyrolysis, gasification and combustion
- Technology surveys, reviews and feasibility studies on thermal conversion processes and products
- Due diligence of technologies and advice on best available technology to suit the application
- Socio-economics of bio-energy systems
- Techno-economic modelling and evaluation of complete thermochemical conversion systems
- Market evaluation of the opportunities for renewable products and technologies,
- Advice on environmental legislation, process authorisation and compliance with emissions
The Use of Biomass and Wastes in Green Power Generation in the UK: Examples of C.A.R.E. Ltd. Projects
Since 1996, Conversion And Resource Evaluation Ltd. has worked on a range of ''green'' energy projects, for chemicals, products, metals recovery, heat, electricity and combined heat and power applications. Some of these are briefly reviewed below.
55 kWe Biomass Gasification CHP at the Ballymena ECOS Centre, Northern Ireland
This was one of the first truly commercial gasification projects in the UK. The client, Ballymena Borough Council tendered for a biomass gasification system which was won by Shawton Engineering Ltd. C.A.R.E. Ltd. worked with Shawton Engineering Ltd. to carry out the technical specification for the complete process, design specific plant components including the gasifier and also carry the environmental assessment and compliance for the local authority. The fully automated, turnkey system was installed in early 2000 and is still in operation, using a variety of wood sources, including SRC willow, which is grown onsite. No modifications have been to the process.
Technical and Economic Assessment of Slow Release Nitrogenous Fertiliser from Biomass Fast Pyrolysis Liquids
Working as part of a European funded consortium, C.A.R.E. Ltd. carried out the overall technical and economic evaluation of the production of a novel slow release fertiliser derived from biomass fast pyrolysis products. The product was shown to be extremely effective in N release for a range of horticultural plants with no detrimental effects on the soil flora and fauna. C.A.R.E. Ltd. assessed two production routes and showed that a renewable N fertiliser could be made a substantially lower price than conventional manufactured slow release products.
Effective Cr(III) Recovery from Leather Wastes by Gasification
The combustion of leather wastes cause the Chrome(III) used in the tanning process to be converted to the toxic form Chrome (VI) and this has a significant disposal costs associated with it. Gasification operates in a reducing atmosphere, therefore the Cr(III) should remain as Cr(III) after gasification. To this end, working with Biomass Engineering Ltd., C.A.R.E. Ltd. worked on the retrofit of a existing gasification technology with a new gasifier with the objective of converting a range of leather wastes produced by the British Leather Corporation with the primary aim of recovering Cr(III) from buffing dust and sludge cake in the residual ash from the process and a secondary aim of producing a usable fuel gas for heat or power applications. C.A.R.E. Ltd. worked on the assessment of the process emissions, evaluating process mass and energy balances and evaluating the existing gas cleaning technology. Work was also completed on emissions assessment, compliance with the Waste Incineration Directive and gasifier design. A successful test campaign demonstrated that the Cr(III) remained as Cr(III) and a 250 kg/h unit is now planned for 2005 with power generation. This will be designed by C.A.R.E. Ltd.
Integrated SOx/NOx and Particulate Removal in Coal/Olive Wastes and Leather Wastes Combustion
C.A.R.E. Ltd. is a partner in an EU funded project to assess the combined removal of SOx, NOx and particulates from an existing 3.5 MWth fluid bed combustion plant in Spain using catalytic promoted filter candles and sodium bicarbonate addition into the flue gases from the combustor. A pilot-scale filtration unit, supplied by Pall Schumacher, has been operating since 2004 and over 80% simultaneous conversion has been achieved with >99% solids recovery. C.A.R.E. Ltd. is responsible for the techno-economic assessment of the new technology for plants up to 100 MWe, in comparison with more conventional gas cleaning technologies.
250-300 kWe Biomass Gasification CHP – Mossborough Hall, England
C.A.R.E. Ltd. has been working with Biomass Engineering Ltd. on the design, construction and operation of a farm based 250-300 kWe farm based biomass gasification for power generation with full environmental compliance. This project is part financed by the UK DTI New and Renewable Energy Programme. The unit was constructed in early 2004 and started testing in August 2004. The engines on site have been operated with a combined electrical output of 270 kWe. C.A.R.E. Ltd. carried out the technical specification of the system including the mass and energy balances, assistance with the planning applications and environmental compliance to LA-PPC. The gasifier design was by C.A.R.E. Ltd. and has proved to be a workable design with extremely low levels of contaminants in the gas. Based on this, 6 commercial projects have been signed by Biomass Engineering Ltd.. for projects up to 2 MWe based on this technology.
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