Large scale Combustion of Animal Manure in the United Kingdom

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Large scale Combustion of Animal Manure in the
United Kingdom

• Philip Metcalfe
• ADAS UK Ltd

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Summary

• Recovery of value from combustion of poultry
  litter has many environmental benefits.
• Uses proven technologies
• Half the broiler litter in the UK is recovered
• The construction and operation of large scale
  power stations has proven to be financially
  viable over 13 years.
• The ash provides revenue and is registered as a
  product.

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Number of table fowl in the UK and volumes of
litter
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Thetford
Eye
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Broiler Litter Fuelled Power Stations in the UK
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Physical and Chemical Properties of Broiler
Litter
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Fibrophos
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Regulatory drivers for farms

• Nitrates Directive 91/676/EC
• Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and
  Control 96/61/EC
• Town and county Planning Regulations 1988 EIA
• Environmental Protection Act 1990

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Regulation of the process

• Environmental Protection Act Prescribed Processes
  and Substances Regulation Part A processes.
• IPPC
• Directive 2000/76/EC on the Incineration of Waste
  (WID) co-incineration processes

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Emissions
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Financial Benefits

• Revenues from sale of electricity
• Renewable obligation certificates
• Carbon trading
• Lower cost recycling
• Revenues from the sale of fertiliser (ash)
• Income from litter supply to power stations
• Green credentials for users of the products.
• 40 employed on-site, 100 150 indirect jobs

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Carbon and Nutrient Recycling
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Environmental Benefits 1

• Significant volumetric reduction
• Elimination of nitrogen for NVZ compliance
• Preservation of other nutrients
• Elimination of odour from recycling
• Reduction of ammonia emissions from land
  spreading
• NO2 losses reduced
• Reduction of methane emissions

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Environmental Benefits 2

• Replacement of fossil fuels
• Process remote from high population areas
• Avoided carbon emissions
• Replacement of chemical fertiliser

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Farm Management Benefits

• Significant volumetric reduction
• Year round removal of waste form poultry units.
• Reduced storage requirements
• Easier planning permissions
• Compliance with IPPC directive
• Eliminate pollution risk

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The Process
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Combustion technologies

• Aalborg Boiler watertube 3 pass 65 bar
• Stepped grate 1993
• Spread grate 1994
• Fluidised bed 2001

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Conversion technologies

• Reciprocating Engine 160kva 1990
• Steam Turbine 13Mw 1993

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Combustion
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Combustion 2
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Stepped grate precombustor
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Precombustor
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Thetford 38 Mwe
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Westfield power station 10MWe
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Fluidised bed
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Summary

• Recovery of value from combustion of poultry
  litter has many environmental benefits.
• Uses proven technologies
• Half the broiler litter in the UK is recovered
• The construction and operation of large scale
  power stations has proven to be financially
  viable over 13 years.
• The ash provides revenue and is registered as a
  product.