Granbio

Founded in June 2011, GranBio focuses on the development of advanced technologies for pioneering applications in the biofuels and biochemicals industry.

The cellulosic ethanol plant, also known as second-generation ethanol or simply 2G, located in São Miguel dos Campos, Alagoas, is among the first in the world to operate in the production of this fuel.

With a nominal capacity of 82 million liters of 2G per year, it started operations in early 2014.

To meet the steam supply required by the industrial plant, GranBio chose the technology that represents the state of the art in biomass combustion, with high efficiency and low environmental impact.

The bubbling fluidized bed boiler, supplied by HPB, has the capacity to produce 200 t/h of superheated steam at 525 °C and 68 bar pressure.

The fuel mix consists of sugarcane bagasse and leaves, as well as lignin and vinasse, both final residues from the distillation process in 2G production.

Among other factors, GranBio opted for the bubbling fluidized bed due to the high complexity of burning this lignin-vinasse mixture, in addition to its thermal efficiency gains and reduced environmental impact.

This is the only system that ensures full control of the combustion temperature, which is vital when dealing with high alkalinity in ash.

With a combustion efficiency greater than 99.5% and CO and NOx emissions below 50% of those from conventional combustion boilers, the bubbling fluidized bed offers high fuel flexibility, allowing the use of alternative fuels such as TDF (tire-derived fuel), RDF (refuse-derived fuel), petcoke, filter cake, among others.

Location: São Miguel dos Campos / AL - Brazil

Commercial Operation: July / 2014

Boiler Technical Data:

• Engineering and Technology: HPB Engenharia e Equipamentos Ltda | B&W

• Maximum Steam Flow: 200,000 kg/h

• Steam Operating Pressure: 67 bar

• Final Steam Temperature: 520 °C

• Start-up Fuel: Ethanol

• Main Fuel: Sugarcane bagasse with LHV of 1,712 kcal/kg and/or lignin with LHV of 1,894 kcal/kg

• Boiler Thermal Efficiency: 91.00% (Bagasse) | 91.50% (Lignin)

• Guaranteed Emissions: Particulates: < 200 mg/Nm³