The EPC contractor retained Ausenco Sandwell to design the fuel handling system for the 55 MW Fibrominn Biomass Power Plant in Benson, Minnesota.

The new power plant will burn 2100 tons per day of poultry litter, which has very particular handling characteristics. This plant will address a significant pollution problem in the USA, by removing a large portion of poultry litter from the mid-west, while generating much needed power for the region.

Fuel will be delivered to site in self-dumping trucks. The fuel will be stored in a covered fuel hall, which will store five days worth of fuel. Two fully automatic overhead cranes with clamshell buckets will build the pile in the storage hall and two others will reclaim and transport the fuel to the boiler feed system. Additionally, the four cranes will move and mix the fuel to ensure a relatively stable fuel mix and moisture content.

Fuel will be reclaimed in two live bottom, stoker reclaimers, which will meter the fuel to two lump breakers and two rotary disc screens. Acceptable material passing through the screens will fall onto a belt conveyor, which will then elevate the fuel to the boiler building. A magnet located over the head pulley will remove tramp ferrous metal. A distribution chain conveyor will distribute the fuel into eight `moving-hole’ feeders, which will feed the fuel to the boiler. The entire feed system has variable speed drives, which will help to minimise the lag time between the reclaimers and the boiler.

View the full factsheet here.