July 05, 2011

Sumitomo Heavy Industries (President: Yoshinobu Nakamura) developed a compact circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler that generates 25 tons of steam per hour (power generating capacity: 5,000kW). The delivery time has been shortened significantly through the standardization of the design specifications for the principal components, making it conceivable for operations to start within 14 months of an order.

In terms of structure, the characteristics of the Sumitomo-Foster Wheeler type CFB boiler, which has a delivery record of primarily private industrial power generation, were retained. However, this boiler is capable of combusting wood-derived biomass (unused thinned wood, construction debris, etc.), including coal and is adaptable even to the combustion of composite fuels that contain coal, thereby effectively using energy resources, which contributes towards reducing carbon dioxide emissions.


Summary of product
1. Compact power generation
In the past private power generating facilities, intended for medium to large scale factories that use over a certain level of electric power, were catered for (steam generation: 65 to 450 tons/hour; power generating amount: 15,000 to 70,000kW), however, in response to demand from users wanting to use smaller boiler power generating facilities, a smaller scale power generating facility (steam generating amount: 25 tons/hour; power generating amount: 5,000kW) was developed. The generation of power is now possible for businesses that had in the past given up on the idea of implementing a biomass power generating facility, since they were excessively large in scale.

2. Short delivery time
Detailed designs for the principal components have already been completed, in order to facilitate the commencement of fabrication immediately once an order is received. Furthermore, the boiler facility segment is structured in modular components to reduce the manufacturing processes in the manufacturing plant and welding work at construction sites, as much as possible. As a result, the design process and on site construction work have been shortened, making it possible to launch into operation 14 months after an order is received, even as short as 12 months if all the conditions are met. A reduction in the processes also leads to a reduction in the construction costs as well.


Intended markets and future prospects
The annual consumption of wood-derived biomass fuel by the product is 55,000 to 60,000 tons. The product is intended for businesses that already own private power generating facilities but they are considering switching to biomass fuels in the future, or domestic electric power companies that are contemplating taking advantage of the "Total Reusable Energy Purchasing Program" by utilizing unused materials from forests, such as thinned wood. The company also anticipates enhancing sales proposals in ASEAN nations. In addition, the benefit of a short delivery time is considered useful for contributing towards waste disposal processing from the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake.


Past performance
Since SHI delivered the first Japanese large scale wood-derivative biomass coal mixture CFB boiler (power generating amount: 50,000kW) to Summit Myojo Power KK (Itoigawa City, Niigata Prefecture), in November 2004, we have pursued biomass fired boilers in earnest. More recently, in February 2011, a 100% wood-derivative biomass fuel burning CFB boiler (power generating amount: 33,000kW) was delivered to the Kawasaki Biomass Power Generating Project of Sumitomo Joint Electric Power Co., which took the number of facilities to 21, including those in operation and those currently in the design process for locations within and outside Japan. Among these, orders for the compact CFB boiler have already been received from two companies, a domestic power company using wood-derivative biomass and a company that owns a private power generating facility in Japan.


Guide to exhibit
Plans are being made to introduce the product at the following exhibits:
1. ASEAN Plus Three Forum on Biomass Energy
To be held on 12 and 13 July, 2011; Venue: International Conference Hall at Makuhari Messe.

2. Biomass Expo 2011
To be held on 20 and 21 October, 2011; Venue: Tokyo Big Sight.