COMBINED HEAT & POWER FEATURE


HELEC SUPPORTS AFRICHAR PROJECT IN MOZAMBIQUE H


elec Ltd, a specialist in the specification, design and installation


of Combined Heat and Power systems (CHP), have been supporting an ongoing development programme to produce a wood to energy system for small and remote locations in Mozambique. Helec engineers are designing a robust CHP unit that will produce up to 15 kW of power as well as hot water, which can be used for washing or to pasteurise drinking water. The prototype will become operational in February 2020. Mozambique’s small rural villages


suffer from poor water quality and a general lack of utility infrastructure, such as electricity. The Africhar project, which started in August 2019, looks set to have a real social impact in the country as it seeks to bring a portable, clean and reusable energy source to the region. The project uses a retort vessel to


create charcoal that, at the same time, also produces methane gas as a by- product. This gas can be collected and used for cooking, heating, drying and electricity generation. The gas produced is enough to run a 15 kW generator, providing potentially life-changing benefits for local communities. The system will be made up of three


principal components; a gasification retort, a simple gas cleaning system, and the CHP unit designed by Helec. In addition to generating gas, the charcoal production process generates heat that can be used to pasteurise water for drinking, as well as for crop drying. The (Exeter)Retort, manufactured by the Carbon Compost Company, is a compact and highly efficient system that was developed to produce charcoal from wood waste of varying qualities. A by- product of this process is a high content methane gas, which is suitable for use as a fuel for a small gas generator. The charcoal is a non-perishable,


saleable product, which is semi- activated and can be used for cooking or soil improvement. It can be produced using dry biomass waste from crops or from managed woodland, adding value that increases the likelihood of forest retention. Developing the cleaning module was


one of the largest challenges of the project, as it had to be effective enough to clean the gas but also needed to be simple enough to be cleaned and serviced


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ESSENTIAL FACTS ·


Converts wood waste into charcoal


· Gas recovered fuels a CHP to produce power and heat 15kW of electricity produced 16 kW of heat energy produced


· ·


· Clean gas produced for cooking or fuel for generator.


· System is mobile and can be operated with minimal training


Founded in 2009, Helec Ltd are


Developing small scale waste to energy for remote locations


in a remote location, with minimal tools and training. The system can clean almost all the tar and condensate from the collected gas, which is then stored in flexible storage bags for use either immediately or later as desired. The CHP package needed to be simple,


small, but robust so that it could be transported to its target location over rough terrain. Based on a gas converted


specialists in the specification, design and installation of Combined Heat and Power systems (CHP), including fully functional pre-packaged plant rooms, plant room troubleshooting, along with maintenance and servicing. The company provides a complete turnkey service, with clients including assisted living care home providers, student accommodation campuses, leisure centres, hotels, and residential property developers. TWI is one of the world’s foremost


independent research and technology organisations, with expertise in materials joining and engineering processes. TWI are a membership-based organisation, supporting both individuals and companies alike. It provides authoritative and impartial expert advice, know-how and safety assurance through engineering, materials and joining technologies. Descended from the British Welding Research Association (BWRA), TWI have grown into one of the foremost independent research and technology organisations, spanning innovation, knowledge transfer and problem resolution across all aspects of welding, joining, surface engineering, inspection and whole-life integrity management. The Carbon Compost Company


manufactures specially formulated biochar soil improver containing treated charcoal waste and either composted equine manure or vegetable matter. Both improve the structure of soil and help to combat global warming, providing a carbon offset for up to 100 miles of driving.


Helec helec.co.uk ENERGY MANAGEMENT | SUMMER 2020 17


Perkins engine, the CHP system will produce up to 15 kW of power and hot water at 85°C, which can be used for washing or to pasteurise drinking water.


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