Our Processes

Care for the Environment

Carbon footprint

In all our operations, from plant and infrastructure planning and construction to energy production processes, Glanpower pursues a carbon efficient policy.

Typical installation

Glanpower custom-designs its energy generation centres with the specific aim of enabling the technology to be located near or on existing waste transfer or local recycling operations. This not only provides scope to eliminate all secondary transport costs, but physically removes all secondary traffic flow together with any associated pollution or impact on the local community. Glanpower’s technology is supplied in multiples of 4 tonnes per hour units. A typical energy generation centre would process 35,000 tonnes of waste which would include a mix of biomass and waste. A single main process unit is relatively small and occupies a footprint of less than 2500 square metres.

Noise and odour

The process is extremely quiet, and is virtually inaudible. The process is entirely odourless, and any odour that might have been present within incoming materials is also completely treated.

Emissions

Emission abatement technology is installed to ensure full compliance with WID standards and limits. Typical emissions figures are as follows:

Dioxins

The incoming fuel is pyrolised at high temperature in the absence of oxygen, therefore it is not possible to generate the types of emissions which rightly cause public concern. Similarly, dioxins and furans, which are the result of oxidation processes, are also abated.

Gas Engines

Gas engines are chosen, rather than turbines, due to their higher open cycle efficiency and also because the gas pressure requirements are considerably lower than that for a gas turbine.

Exhaust Filtration System

Ceramic filters are installed to ensure no particulates escape into the atmosphere. Ceramic filters are extremely stable at high temperatures.

Heat Source

The normal convention is to use an external energy source to heat the kiln. The system is designed to use the energy in the char, tar and oils produced as a further heat source to be redistributed to the engine thereby increasing overall efficiency.

Gas Treatment

All gases are scrubbed to provide clean gas to the engine. The syn gas produced by fast heating the waste/fuel, comprises mainly lighter gases including hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane and similar short chain hydrocarbons. The light constituents are used to maximise downstream gas engine efficiency. Any contaminants in the syn gas are mostly water-soluble gases. The gas cleaning process therefore will work by knocking out the entrained particulates. The gas exits the kiln through a water-cooled extraction pipe where heavy particles are separated by impingement. The heavier char particles fall into the bottom of a hopper and are extracted to the char system. The gas with fine dust content then enters the hot gas cyclone where the remaining dust is removed to the char system. Hot gas from the gas cyclone is then quenched in a water tower to condense out the tars and heavy oils. The gas then travels into a second chamber where it is washed with water. All liquids are condensed and separated. The water is then extracted, cooled and pH corrected prior to being re-circulated.

Heavy Metals

With respect to heavy metals, volatile metals such as lead, mercury, antimony, bismuth etc that have significant vapour pressure at the pyrolysis temperature will be reduced to metallic form and will be trapped in the gas scrubber and polishing filter, appearing as a component of the sludge from the scrubber.