Biomass Technologies - Biogas Gasification in Bangladesh

IDCOL financed a 250 kW biomass gasification based Power Plant at Kapasia of Gazipur district. Dreams
Power Private Ltd. (DPPL) a local sponsor has developed this project. The Plant, the first ever its kind in
Bangladesh, is one of various renewable energy activities of IDCOL. IDCOL provided concessionary loans
and grants, sourced from IDA and Global Environmental Facility to this project. The plant uses locally
available agricultural residues i.e. rice husk as fuel for power generation. The project started commercial
operation in October 2007.

Rice Husk fired 250 kW Gasifier power plant at

Kapasia, Bangladesh.
The project started commercial operation in
October 2007.

1. Gasifier Unit
Parameter
Gasifier Type
Capacity
Rated Gas Flow
Average Gas calorific value
Rated Biomass consumption
Gasification Temperature
Gasification Efficiency
Temperature of Gas at Gasifier Outlet
Biomass Feeding
Desired Operation
Typical Auxiliary Power Consumption
Typical Gas composition

Description
Downdraft
Total 250 kW
625 Nm3 /hr (up to total 250 kW capacity)
> 1,050 (Kcal/Nm3)
Up to 300 kg/hr (for total 250 kW capacity)
1050oC-1100oC
Up to 75%
250 to 400oC
Manual
Continuous (minimum 300 days/yr)
Up to 11 kW
CO-20.62%, H2-10.62%, CO2-13.61%, CH4- Up to
4%, N2-52.62%

2. Gas purification unit

Following gas purification stages and filter element have been used in each stage of this rice husk based
power plant:
Stage 1: Coarse Filter: uses rice husk char as filter element to partly clean the gas.
Stage 2: Fine Filters: sawdust is used as filter element to trap all the particulate and ash particles.
Stage 3: Safety Filter (SF): a special fabric (5 micron particulate size) is used as filter element.
3. Internal Combustion (IC) Engine: Duel-fuel Engine
A 300 kW capacity duel-fuel generator is used to generate electricity. In this rice husk based power plant,
to run the generator certain amount of diesel is required. Because, the producer gas has relatively lower
heating value and needs to be supplemented by diesel to get the necessary power output. Thats why the IC
engine has been converted into duel fuel mode, i.e. it can run both on producer gas and diesel. Here, the
Producer gas to diesel ratio is. 70:30. During start up of the plant, main generator is started first on diesel
and then changed over to duel fuel mode when the producer gas is available for charging to the engine.
4. Power distribution Network
A mini grid has been constructed to sell the power to the adjacent area. The plant is able to deliver power to
at least 200 households and over 100 commercial entities of that area.
5. Environmental impact
Generally 4 types of effluent are generated from the gasification process; ash, char, tar, and waste water.
Ash is collected in wet condition. Around 20% of rice husk is made up of ash and the ash coming from the
gasifier contains 10 to 15% carbon by weight. The ash-laden water can be used as organic fertilizer or land
filling purpose. The plant has on site storage facility for ash. Char can be transformed into charcoal which
is used as a domestic fuel for cooking and heating. Tar can be either recycled or burnt in the gasifier or
used as black paint for the wooden materials like boat, wooden structures and construction of roads. The
plant has onsite storage facility to deposit waste water which needs to be changed in every three month.
6. Project Cost
Total cost of the project was around Tk. 2.5 crore. Financed by grant from World Bank (60%), IDCOL
20% and DPPL 20%.

Project Developer/Co-sponsor: Dreams Power Private Ltd. (DPPL), Bangladesh

Source:
Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), Bangladesh
IDB Bhaban, 6th floor, Agargaon, Dhaka 1207, Phone: 8111235, 8117526, Fax: 8116663, e-mail:
idcol@dhaka.agni.com; Website: http://www.idcol.org

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