El Nido and Chowchilla Projects
Two 12.5 MWe Fluid Bed Power Plants Each Unit -
122,000 PPH
(Agricultural Waste and Urban Wood Waste) 685 psi, 755 F
Owner
San Joaquin Valley Energy Partners
Project Location
El Nido, California, Chowchilla, California
Project Completion
El Nido: September 1988
Chowchilla: November 1988 |
El Nido
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Chowchilla
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Project Description
Each fluid bed power plant is capable of producing 12.5 megawatts of (gross) electricity.
The fuel consists of almond tree prunings, rice straw, wheat straw, cotton stalks,
vineyard prunings, a wide variety of other agricultural waste products available in the
region, along with demolition urban wood wastes.
The facilities provide for on-site storage and handling of the waste fuel and
conveyance to the fluidized bed boiler systems. Flue gas particulate abatement is achieved
with mechanical collectors followed by baghouses. Limestone and ammonia injection into the
combustion cell are used to control SOX and NOx respectively. Flue gas recirculation
enhances these abatement reactions, in addition to improving system efficiencies, by
reducing the combustion excess air levels.
General Electric Company served as EPC contractor for both projects.
Scope of Supply
EPI designed, fabricated and commissioned the fluidized bed boiler system including the
dual fuel metering bins, fluid bed combustor, boiler, multiclone, economizer, ducting,
circulation piping and fans. The exhaust gases are cleaned with a baghouse supplied by
General Electric. The steam generation system is designed for 122,000 pounds per hour at
685 psi and 755 F and includes a forced circulation system for both the boiler evaporative
surface as well as both bed and vapor space heat transfer systems. The boiler design
includes an evaporator/screen section ahead of the superheater for ash fouling protection.
