Vamamo demonstration plant

The Vamamo Demonstration Plant is the first of its kind in the world. The plant is aimed at demonstrating the complete integration of a gasification plant and a combined cycle plant, fuelled by biomass. The basic idea is to demonstrate the technology rather than to tun a fully optimised plant. Flexible and conservative solutions were chosen for the plant layout and design, to ensure the success of the project and Co make the plant suitable for R D activities. 

The biomass fuelled IGCC demonstration plant at Vamamo consists of a 18 MW pressurised circulating fluidised bed gasifier, a 4,2 MW gas turbine and a 1,8 MW steam turbine. The low heat value gas produced in the gasifier is cooled in a gas cooler and cleaned in a candle filter at a temperature of 350-400°C before it is combusted in the gas turbine. The flue gas from the gas turbine is used for the production of steam in the heat recovery steam generator. The steam is superheated, together with steam from the gas cooler, and supplied to the steam turbine. Besides electricity, 9 MW heat for district heating purposes is produced. 

As the technology used in Vamamo never before have been tried the cost of the plant was very high. A considerable amount of valuable experience has been gained, which can be used in the next generation of demonstration plants. Some demo plants must be built to further develop the technology and reduce the cost of the plants, and these demo plants will require financial support as they will not be commercially viable. Particular areas for development include fuel system, inert gas system and emissions (NOx). 

In June 1991, Sydkrafr took the final decision to build a co-generation plant at Vamamo, Sweden, to demonstrate the technology. The plant generates 6 MW of electricity and 9 MW of heat for district heating. 

The Demonstration Programme is now almost finished and the results are being evaluated and reports produced. Studies concerning future plants based on the experience gained at Vamamo are also being performed and these will present expected investment costs as well as operating costs for the next generation of demonstration and commercial plants. 

A gas turbine has not been operated for long periods with gas derived from bagasse. However, the Sydkraft demonstration Gasification Combined Cycle plant at Vamamo, Sweden, has been succesfrilly operated with several biofuels for more than 8500 hours of the gasifier and 3600 hours of the gas turbine with wood gas liiel . The uncertainty related to the gas turbine operation may therefore considerd moderate. 

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