Biomass Energy Systems

With decades of global experience in the energy industry, Sigma Thermal has mastered the art of providing robust industrial solutions tailored to meet even the most demanding client specifications. Our biomass-fired energy systems boast minimal emissions and precise combustion control, while accepting a diverse range of waste fuels—ranging from various sizes and chemical compositions to differing moisture levels. Our reciprocating grate furnaces ensure efficient and complete combustion of waste materials, even those with high ash, high moisture content, and low heating values. Read on to learn more about how these systems operate and the different energy delivery options we provide. ## How Does a Biomass System Work? Biomass energy systems typically consist of four primary components: fuel handling, ash handling, a furnace, and a control system. These systems convert raw organic material into usable fuel through a series of steps: 1. **Fuel Preparation:** Before biomass equipment can handle raw material effectively, it must process and prepare the biomass for fuel production. Whether solid, liquid, or gas, biomass requires specific techniques like drying, screening, grinding, and separation to ensure consistency and efficiency. 2. **Fuel Intake and Handling:** The fuel handling system includes an initial feed and an intermediate storage bin. Fuel moves from the feed to the storage bin, where specialized equipment measures it out and distributes it into the furnace and onto the reciprocating grate. 3. **Material Combustion:** The prepared materials are heated and combusted using process heating equipment. This step achieves drying and gasification by generating hot gases that move through the subsequent stages of the process. 4. **Gas Capture:** Newly created hot gases pass through two chambers—the upper combustion chamber and the secondary combustion chamber—to capture and store the gases for future use. Since burning biomass produces carbon dioxide, proper gas capture is vital to keep carbon emissions low. 5. **Ash Handling:** Finally, the ash handling system collects the grate ash byproduct, which is dropped from ash hoppers to the ash conveyor. Submerged underwater for better ash management, this conveyor transports the ash outside the system where it can be collected and disposed of. ## Energy Delivery Systems & Equipment for Enhanced Performance Biomass energy systems offer numerous advantages over traditional energy generation methods, including superior performance, efficiency, and more. As a renewable energy source, biomass energy qualifies for benefits like Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) for every MWh of power generated or even process heat RECs. Biomass energy not only offers environmental sustainability but also delivers financial benefits, particularly in the industrial sector. Biomass energy delivery systems are also highly cost-effective and resource-efficient. Advanced gasification technology, as outlined above, can achieve thermal efficiencies of up to 80-90%, drastically reducing input costs and expanding profit margins. Additionally, operational fuel cost savings and reduced fuel price volatility make biomass energy an attractive option, given its abundance compared to non-renewable fuel sources. Furthermore, biomass-fired energy is considered an efficient Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system because it generates both heat and electricity simultaneously. At Sigma Thermal, we provide several types of energy delivery systems: - **Biomass-Fired Hot Gas Generators:** These systems cleanly generate hot gas for direct heating applications. - **Biomass-Fired Thermal Fluid Heaters:** Designed for indirect heating, these systems utilize thermal oil or fluid. - **Biomass-Fired Steam Boilers:** These boilers produce steam directly from wood-fired furnaces. - **Thermal Oil to Steam Generation:** These systems use a thermal oil heat exchanger to generate low-pressure steam. ## Let Our Process Heating Experts Assist You Collaborate with our team of industry veterans to harness the full potential of bioenergy systems. From highly engineered process heating equipment to standard packaged heaters, Sigma Thermal's experts will help you find the ideal biomass energy solution for your unique needs. We believe that successful energy delivery systems require not only advanced industry knowledge and practical field experience but also exceptional customer service at every stage. These three pillars underpin our work and provide a strong foundation for consistently delivering outstanding biomass equipment and processes. For more information about our biomass energy systems, contact us or request a quote today. ---