European Bio-Energy Projects

BIOFLAM
Objectives
The BIOFLAM project intends to provide
solutions to the problem of environmental
impact of residential combustion of liquid
fuels by reducing emissions, introducing
the use of liquid, renewable biofuels, and
improving efficiency.
The aim is to develop, prototype and
demonstrate a new liquid fuel fired
condensing boiler by developing new
ceramic premixed liquid fuel burners based
on the innovative cool flame vaporisation
process, the novel porous medium burner
concept and the use of high-temperature
ceramics, condensing boiler technology
with condense water neutralisation and
innovative burner controls with a power
modulation of 10:1.
Liquid bio-fuels in
a new heating technology.
BIOFLAM-technology for
domestic appliances
Challenges
It becomes obvious that improved technologies
for heating purposes with fuel oil are of major
importance in order to reduce the overall
emissions generated by household heating. Fuel
oil plays a key role in European household
heating (EU 25%) and is not going to be replaced
drastically in the near future by alternative
technologies - except possibly partially by natural
gas. Hence, there is a high potential for
significant, positive, environmental impacts
through novel, high efficiency and low emission
combustion technologies for liquid fuels, like
fuel oil.
Project structure
The project is organised in nine work packages
(WP). In WP1 the biofuels and blends of those
with conventional fuels are going to be produced
and characterised (in accordance with standards
by CEN / TC19 / WG25). WP2 deals with the
development of a vaporiser able to operate with
all possible biofuel blends and producing a
gaseous fuel/air mixture. In WP3 the burner is
developed, which can operate with the hot
premixed vaporiser products and shows a stable
operation for a high power dynamic range. The
burner is based on the innovative principle of
stabilised combustion in porous media. In WP4
the high temperature ceramic components for the
burner are developed. The burner and boiler
electronics, sensors and controls are worked out
in WP5 utilising advanced methods like the
flame signature, in order to control and optimise
the fuel/air mixture at varying biofuel qualities.
All components are integrated and combined
with the condensing heat exchanger in the boiler
construction in WP6. As soon as the boiler
development is finished, the demonstration part
is going to be prepared starting with long term
104
laboratory tests within WP7. The fabrication of
about 21 boilers has to be performed prior to the
installation and monitoring in test households
within WP8. WP9 deals with the coordination of
all the activities.
Expected impact and exploitation
• CO2 emissions will be reduced by the partial
use of renewable fuels (blends from 5 to 20 %)
of the FAME type (esterified vegetable and
used frying oils).
• The heating system will operate with a
condensing boiler using the heat of the water
condensation improving the overall efficiency
by approximately 10% and thus reducing CO2
emissions.
• NOx emissions will be reduced by a factor of
2 in comparison to conventional oil boilers by
using a high temperature ceramic in the porous
burner technology.
• The overall CO2 emission of liquid fuel fired
boilers will be reduced by 20% through
improved efficiency and high power modulation
1:10.
• The BIOFLAM boiler will guarantee a basic heat
power of about 3 kW – required from the new
building programmes for low power buildings.
• The high power modulation allows an easy
integration with further renewable energy
sources like solar energy systems.
• The long-term operational behaviour in
laboratory and selected households is a
milestone to work the dissemination and
exploitation directly by the project partners. The
partner EHI will promote the market
introduction.
• To introduce the innovative boiler technology
at a competitive price of €2500.