Other Benefits

Carbon Char

Carbon Char is the residual solid which remains after processing organic material through the pyrolysis system. In the case of Glanpower’s unique pyrolysis system, it is considered efficient to utilise the calorific content of the char to generate additional heat and further utilise this heat to maintain the required process operating conditions. In cases where excess carbon char is generated due to high biomass content, the residual carbon char can be harvested and utilised for enhanced value applications in the form of soil enhancers, and also activated carbon, used extensively in the water and air purification industries. 1 tonne of mixed organic material will produce approximately 150kg of high calorific value carbon char.

Organic Rankine Cycles

Glanpower is currently exploring Organic Rankine Cycles (ORC) as a technology which can maximise the utilisation of waste heat generated from our processes. ORCs have been established for over a hundred years and operate very similar to any conventional steam-based Rankine cycle, which forms the basis of every conventional coal-fired electricity generation plant. A key distinction is that ORCs do not rely on high temperatures from burning fossil fuels to generate electricity, rather they can use much lower heat input temperatures. Systems are available for various applications such as reciprocating engines, small-scale gas turbines and industrial waste heat sources. These new, much more efficient and cost-effective systems will enable the broad exploitation of waste heat as an energy source to transform a waste product into a value-added product.

Materials Drying

The availability of waste heat in the pyrolysis process, affords Glanpower the opportunity to look at our existing national waste infrastructure and provide energy efficient options for these processes. Municipal sludge drying for example is a very costly enterprise, and the cost per tonne could be reduced considerably by combining available heat with the drying process. The same principal could also be applied to grain drying.

Market Gardening

Excess heat may be utilised in the market gardening sector where glass houses and growing tunnels require constant temperature adjustment in the Irish climate.

Adsorption Chilling

An option for the utilisation of low grade waste heat is the provision of heat for reverse adsorption chilling plants to facilitate the storage of refrigerated product.

Landfill Gas

Glanpower intend to utilise our systems to enable the recovery of both electrical and heat energy from landfill gas generating sites. Landfill gas is a methane-rich biomass, which has conventionally been flared to atmosphere. Glanpower intend to utilise available technology to maximise the use of this resource at our installations, where practicable. 1000 cubic metres of landfill gas per day would produce approximately 1.4 MW of electricity and 2.0 MW of heat in combined cycle.