How Does an RER Plant Work?

Depending on the application specifics, an RER plant utilizes several special technologies developed for small scale distributed generation power plants. They include updraft gasification, ceramic heat exchangers, and air turbines. These technologies combine to create a base load plant that operates 24/7, steadily delivering energy to the customer.
Lets look deeper into the system

Description: Incoming fuel is stored in fuel hopper. Fuel is fed to gasifier. as fuel is gasified the volitile gas stream exits to oxidizer where air is introduced and maximum heat generated. The gas stream passes to a two-stage heat exchanger. Air with any odors is pulled from the fuel storage silo to the compressor side of the turbine is compressed and sent to the heat exchanger. The suerheated air enters the expander side of the turbine, spins the turbine which turns the generator producing electricity. Exhuast from the heat exchanger goes to the exhaust stack. In select systems it may first go to a heat recovery boiler to produce steam. Exhaust from the turbine goes to the gasifier to provide heat and air to sustain the process.

Fuel Choices and Management

Recovered Energy Resources plants can utilize different types of solid fuels including: poultry litter, animal manure, wood chips and sawdust, crop residues such as corn stover rice hulls, energy crops, forestry logging and thinning residues, coal fines, and numerous other solid wastes.

RER utilizes a proprietary Web based fuels management system. It logs the generation of wastes for fuel and schedules the delivery of the material to the plants in a consistent manner, coordinating transportation and documentation as required. The system also manages the transportation of plant ash to reuse or disposal sites.

Utility Interconnection

The physical connection is designed to be compliant with the local utility and to operate in a safe manner under all conditions. Construction of new substation and switchgear and interface equipment is done by RER as part of the plant construction.

Plant Design and Assembly

Having the goal of building high availability, low operating cost power plants; RER has developed a complete gasification-based plant that is based on easily assembled modules. A set of the modules is referred to as a moduTRAIN™. The moduTRAIN™ is a specific output, standardized equipment train that is factory assembled and tested. Some of the modules are a turbine module, a heat exchanger module, an oxidizer module, even an electrical substation and control room are build up in the factory as modules.

The factory assembled modular design allows rapid field assembly. All of the wiring and piping is done in the factory. Once complete, the modules are connected and tested then broken down at their logical disconnect points. They can be shipped to the site via truck and set in place by crane. Without the need for electrical and mechanical work a rigging company can actually connect the modules into a complete moduTRAIN™ and ready it for the RER startup team. Start to finish one or more moduTRAINs™ can be installed in a matter of weeks.

When major service is required of a moduTRAIN™ module, the entire module can be swapped out to allow the plant to return to service more quickly. Also as individual modules are improved, an existing plant can easily be upgraded. This allows all of the plants to take advantage of the latest developments ensuring peak performance and economic return.

A complete plant may consist of one or more moduTRAINs™ and the modular concept extends into the software and process systems. They allow the additional moduTRAIN™ to be added without having to rewrite software or make major changes to the physical plant.

Quick Steps to Project Development

Once a customer has expressed support for the development of plant several tasks begin. First, questions are asked regarding the quantity and types of energy is needed by the customer, from whom is power and energy currently being purchased. Next, what resources are available for use as fuel, what is their availability, quantity, and quality. Then a feasibility model is produced, and if it passes, design and layout are completed, followed by rapid construction of the plant. The sooner the plant is completed and operating, the sooner the RER and the customer can start realizing the benefits.