June 15, 2007

Kimberlina: A zero-emissions demonstration plant

Keith Pronske, Clean Energy Systems Inc.

Kimberlina is reborn

The Kimberlina facility (Figure 3) will provide the range of test and demonstration opportunities needed to facilitate commercialization of the CES technology and other oxy-fuel combustion systems. It is being developed in stages. Early on, Kimberlina served as a test facility for evaluating the durability and reliability of the oxy-combustor and to define the system design refinements called for by the CEC program (Figure 4). In the existing system, the turbine (Figure 5) is fed a mixture of 90% steam and 10% CO2. Its exhaust is routed to a geothermal-type condenser (Figure 6), which turns the steam to water and separates out the CO₂.

3. Born again. CES purchased the idled Kimberlina biomass power plant and is using it to host an evaluation of its combustor's durability. Courtesy: Clean Energy Systems Inc.

4. Maiden voyage. The combustor's injection manifold is mounted on the 20-MW gas generator and fully connected to fuel, oxygen, and water piping on the test stand during the first operational run at Kimberlina. Courtesy: Clean Energy Systems Inc.

5. Alternatively fueled. The 5.7-MW gas generator/turbo-generator used at the Kimberlina test facility was built by Elliott Co. (www.elliott-turbo.com). The turbine is powered by a mixture of 90% steam and 10% CO2. Courtesy: Clean Energy Systems Inc.

6. Binary by-product. The steam turbine exhaust goes into a condenser that separates it into water and CO2. Courtesy: Clean Energy Systems Inc.

The first equipment that CES installed at Kimberlina comprised an oxygen supply system, a natural gas compressor, a high-pressure feedwater pump, a new condenser, and a liquid-ring vacuum pump. To reduce program costs, the processes of recovering CO₂ and purifying it to a level suitable for commercial use were excluded from the scope of the CEC project. However, future activities at Kimberlina may include pilot testing of CO₂ sequestration via injection into saline aquifers and/or CO₂ flooding of nearby oil fields to enhance oil or gas recovery from them.

In late 2004, validation testing and commissioning of the integrated combustor/control system and its associated feed systems were completed using natural gas as the fuel. In December 2004, engineers diverted some of the drive gas from the oxy-combustor to the 5.7-MW_e turbo-generator, partially bypassed to the stack, and brought the turbo-generator to synchronous speed. In February 2005, Kimberlina was synchronized to the local grid for the first time. One month later, the plant was operated in pure "power island" mode, disconnected from the grid. Shortly thereafter, permission to connect to the grid was granted and power began flowing from the plant.