It started with a desire to reduce the cost of running and maintaining Vattenfall’s own fleet of biomass fired power stations. Today the product – ChlorOut – is being installed in plants across Europe.
The ChlorOut concept – an innovative approach
Developed over many years by a team of researchers and engineers at Vattenfall, ChlorOut is a technical solution that reduces corrosion and deposit problems in biomass and waste fired power plants. The concept is based on dosing of sulphate based additives to the flue gas in order to convert corrosive alkali chlorides to less harmful sulphates, and a unique measurement device called IACM (in-situ alkali chloride monitor).
“It was known that sulphur-rich fuels cause less corrosion, but we pioneered the dosing of sulphates in the upper part of the furnace,” says Jonas Alin, Business Development Manager at ChlorOut AB, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vattenfall established in February 2011 to market the technology outside the Vattenfall Group.
A further advantage of implementing the ChlorOut concept is that emissions of nitrogen oxides and dioxins can be reduced.
“Our main focus has been to mitigate corrosion and the formation of deposits, but the reduction of emissions is an additional benefit which makes the ChlorOut concept stand out from competing, similar techniques,”, Alin says.
IACM ® – a powerful tool
The IACM instrument measures the concentration of gaseous alkali chlorides on-line. The measuring principle is based on molecular absorption over a certain wavelength interval. IACM enables control of the required amount of the ChlorOut additive as well as on-line quality control of the incoming fuel mix by measuring the concentration of KCl.
The measuring principle of IACM
ChlorOut AB – significant growth potential
ChlorOut AB holds the patents and exclusive licensing rights to the ChlorOut technology. As part of the growth strategy, ChlorOut AB is aiming to establish business relations with boiler manufacturers, technology suppliers and engineering companies looking to boost their offering with an innovative and cost effective way to reduce material and maintenance costs for biomass and waste fired boilers.
Test campaign in 100 MWth CHP plant: [Left] Deposits and corrosion products formed on test rings after four weeks exposure during combustion of a mixture of biomass and plastic waste. [Right] The appearance after ChlorOut injection with the same fuel mix during the same time period.
KCl (red) and NO (blue) in the flue gas during combustion with wood and straw pellets: [I] Reference case. [II] Injection of the ChlorOut additive. [III] Injection of increased amount of the ChlorOut additive.
Chlorout AB will be exhibitor at the 21st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, Copenhagen 3-7 June
