Updates on MILENA lab-scale and MILENA Pilot
The MILENA 800 kW will be officially opened at ECN on the 4th of September.
The MILENA 800 kW has been taken in operation. Start up was initiated from a combustion mode and gradually changed to gasification mode. Biomass feed was 150 kg/h and gas composition was similar to lab-scale tests. (03 - 06 - 2008)
In May a succesful duration test was performed with the MILENA 25 kW and extensive gas cleaning. This test proved it is possible to operate MILENA and the rest of the system fully automatic. (16 - 05 - 2008).
A start has been made with the first functional testing of the MILENA 800 kW. Checking electrical systems, pressure and temperature sensors (22 - 04 - 2008).
The construction of the MILENA 800 kW had minor delays beginning of January, but at the moment the electrical and mechanical wiring is being finalized. First functional tests are planned for the beginning of May (27 - 03 - 2008).
"MILENA" Biomass gasifier
The MILENA gasifier converts biomass into a product gas with high efficiency. After cleaning, this gas can be used to generate power with gas engines, gas turbines or fuel cells. The gas produced by the Milena gasifier is more suitable for application in a gas engine or gas turbine because of the higher calorific value of the gas (typical 16 MJ/mn3 dry, compared to 4 – 7 MJ/mn3 for a conventional air blown gasifier) and the complete conversion of the fuel (typical fuel conversion for downdraft or fluidized bed gasifiers is 85 - 95%). The MILENA producer gas is also suitable for conversion into sustainable Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG), also referred to as Substitute Natural Gas. SNG has the same properties as conventional natural gas and can be used to replace natural gas in all applications. SNG is CO2 neutral, which means that no extra CO2 is added to the natural environment.
When producing SNG from valuable feed stocks the efficiency is very important. The MILENA technology aims at a high initial methane production, thus creating a high overall efficiency to SNG. The production of SNG always results in a stream of CO2, which is captured and stored. This way the process of biomass to SNG becomes not only CO2-neutral, but even CO2-negative, meaning that this technology helps to remove CO2 from the atmosphere.