BTC

BTC-Biofuel Technology Centre

BTC is a research and demonstration unit for studies of integrated chains of energy crops including crop production, fuel handling, fuel upgrading to briquettes, pellets and fuel powder as well as combustion studies in boilers in size between 100-1000 kW. The design permits studies of systems for sustainable production and resource management with special emphasis to develop waste handling technology for countryside. BTC is also used for education on ground level as well as on higher levels. BTC is a unique plant that combines education and research on production and combustion of biofuels with heating of buildings. The plant started up in January 2000 and is located at the Swedish Agricultural University (SLU Röbäcksdalen, Umeå). In BTC it is possible to mix and refine dry biofuel components with high precision and make briquettes, pellets and powder out of the mixture. Various biofuel-mixtures can be burnt and the combustion can be studied in two different and flexible boilers. One with the effect 650 kW and the other with 160 kW. There are also possibilities to make research on a 150 kW powder burner. The plant is equiped with measuring instruments and during the combustion tests process parameters, temperatures and emissions can be registered and logged. Biofuels and ashes can be analysed in our certified laboratory at SLU. In the plant a wide range of testings and research can be done. Several scientists and engineers are connected to the plant which also can be used for education in different programs in Umeå University and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

Fuel Plant

To store and handle raw material a paved area of 1600 m2 is availible. Raw material is loaded into the plant using a tractor. Baled or unbaled material is placed on a rubber belt-conveyor (1.5 x 16 m). The material is chopped in a low speed shredder to avoid fire accidents. Chopped material can be stored in two different silos from which the material is fed out in exact proportions. Stones and metal pieces are seperated in a pneumatic vibro conveyor from which the material goes into a briquette or a pellet press. The refined fuel is stored on a mobile floor dimensioned for 30 tonnes and in two buffert silos, one for each boiler.

Boiler Plant

Two boilers, constructed for high ash contents in the fuel, delivered by Öko Therm AG are installed. The ash is transported in the boiler by a hydraulic ash pusher. The boilers are equipped with a ceramic afterburner compartment and an ordinary cyclone flue gas cleaner, that reduces the amount of particles in the flue gas to below 50 mg/nm3.