FAQ

A BioMax® is a renewable energy system that converts biomass to a renewable fuel gas that can then be converted into other forms of energy including mechanical, electrical, thermal, chemical or liquid fuels

Community Power Corporation owns the registered trademark for the name BioMax.

Biomass energy is a form of solar energy that is released when the stored energy of sunlight is converted to energy. About 1% of the solar energy striking a plant is stored as energy through the photosynthesis process. When the chemical bonds between adjacent carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen molecules are broken by digestion, combustion, or decomposition these substances release stored energy.

The biomass resource is made available on a renewable basis through natural processes, or it can be made available as a byproduct of human activities. According to the Michigan Biomass Energy Program, “biomass resources are quite significant, as approximately 100 terawatt-years of chemical energy are stored in plants each year (an amount of energy equivalent to ten times that of humanity's current energy needs).”

The BioMax is designed to use a number of residues from the agricultural and forest industries as well as certain waste streams such as paper, cardboard and some plastics.

To date, we have converted many different biomass resources to electricity and heat. Examples include: wood chips, walnut shells, commercial pellets made from sawdust and peanut shells, coconut shells, corn, soybeans, pecan shells, coffee husks, chicken litter and nutmeg shells.

To the best of our knowledge, CPC is the world’s first company to convert waste from an Army Mobile Kitchen to a gas that displaces JP-8 (diesel fuel) in an Army gen-set..

A good biomass resource has the following characteristics:

• Available in large quantity to assure long-term sustainability
• Low moisture content
• Dense
• Small size, able to flow well
• Low ash content
• Low/no cost, not subject to large price swings
• Available locally, not requiring shipment long distances
• Non-toxic, able to be handled by humans

As a rule-of-thumb, woody types of biomass are good fuel. These include wood chips, manufactured pellets, and many kinds of nutshells. Some of the paper products are also good. Light, low-density fuels such as grasses; fuels with high silicon content such as rice husks; and fuels with high moisture content such as bagasse are currently not target fuels for the BioMax.

The US Department of Energy originated the Small Modular Biopower program in March 1998. A key requirement of the program was for standard power systems in the range of 5 kW to 5 MW having the potential for high volume manufacture.

Of four companies that were selected by the DOE to develop and demonstrate systems, CPC is one of only two companies that eventually fielded operating systems.

We believe the BioMax is an ideal technology for the distributed generation market.

The BioMax is the state-of-the-art in highly automated small modular biopower systems. A unique aspect of the BioMax is the way it is configured. We refer to this as our Integrated Modular Architecture concept wherein the system is composed of modules that can be easily integrated.

The following is a partial list of features of the phase BioMax:

• Fully automated start-up, operation and shutdown.
• Follow loads in a ratio of 10:1 from peak to base.
• Inherently low production of tars and particulates.
• Low NOx, CO and VOCs
• Uses locally available biomass residues to:
  
  • Displace higher priced fossil fuels, both gaseous and liquid
  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
  • Create markets for otherwise waste materials
• Generates heat that can be used for productive uses or for residential heating applications
• Modular, able to be paralleled with other power systems including other BioMax systems.
• Mobile, able to be quickly installed and relocated
• Small footprint
• Able to be manufactured in most countries of the world using locally available components
• Can operate in a dual fuel mode --- biomass and a fossil fuel, either one at a time or both together.
• Lower cost of energy than a pv or wind system producing the same amount of energy
• Meets World Bank environmental requirements for biomass systems
• Adaptable to a range of prime movers such as internal engines, stirling engines, micro-turbines and fuel cells.

The heart of the BioMax is a downdraft gasifier that converts biomass to a low BTU (120 – 160 BTU/cubic foot) producer gas, a mixture of fuel gases such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane. Producer gas is converted to electricity as follows:

• Internal combustion engine: gas is ignited in cylinder and crankshaft spins an electrical generator.
• Stirling engine: gas is combusted in a radiant burner that heats the head and transfers heat to an internal working fluid for conversion to electricity via a linear alternator.
• Micro-turbine*: gas is combusted in a turbine and converted to AC electricity via a power conditioning system
• Fuel cell: gas constituents are chemically combined in the fuel cell to create electricity.

*While CPC has successfully operated spark ignited and compression ignition internal combustion engines, and tested a small solid oxide fuel cell and a stirling engine, we have yet to apply BioMax technology to a micro-turbine.

Normal maintenance averages about ½ hour per day.

Most of the maintenance for the BioMax relates to standard engine maintenance (filters, oil changes, etc).

For the gasifier, the char/ash is automatically removed from the system to one or more drums. Therefore disposal of this char/ash is infrequent, and very easy to accomplish. The gasifier is inspected during shutdown and components may need to be cleaned.

Occasionally, a bag filter may need to be replaced.

If char/ash builds up in the heat exchanger tubes, it can be easily removed.

Yes. Explosions are prevented by using rupture disks to prevent dangerous pressures from building up in case of premature gas ignition. We also do not accumulate large volumes of producer gas. Design features prevent fires. Since our systems operate under a slight negative pressure, any leaks will pull air into the system as opposed to leaking carbon monoxide out of the system. Operators are trained and provided with proper equipment.

Target electrical efficiencies vary by the choice of prime mover as follows:

• Internal combustion: 20-30% (diesels will achieve higher efficiency than spark ignited engines)
• Stirling engine: 5-25%
• Micro-turbine: 10-20%
• Fuel cell: 25-45%

When the waste heat can be used in a combined heat and power mode, the overall efficiency can be up to 80 %.
With the use of higher compression ratios, and available control technologies we believe it is possible to achieve electrical efficiencies greater than or equal to 30%.

In an all-electric application, the heat is not used. In a combined heat and power mode, a significant fraction of the heat is captured for use elsewhere. Heat is typically captured through the use of a conventional heat exchanger. Maximum economic value is received if the heat is used to displace thermal energy from high priced natural gas or propane.

The BioMax uses a dry system to cool and clean the producer gas therefore eliminating the need to process large quantities of contaminated water as found in wet scrubbers.

Solids collected are processed as follows:

• Ash and char – stored and periodically combusted to ash that can be dispersed in the soil as an amendment
• Expended filters – stored and periodically combusted

Solid emissions have been tested independently and found to be non-hazardous.
Gaseous emissions meet CARB standards for 2003.
Depending on the atmospheric conditions, there may be a small amount of water condensing from the engine exhaust.

There are many groups that will benefit from the use of the BioMax. The groups are distinguished by their objectives.

• Sell energy services: These customers will own and operate the power system and provide electrical and/or thermal energy to their customers and be paid based upon the heat and power delivered. Example: Energy Service Company.
• Displace other fuels. Typically these customers will have access to biomass fuel that is significantly lower cost than existing fossil fuel or electricity. Example: Agricultural processor that has a residue left over
• Biopower Research: Perform bio-fuels experiments on a lab-based biopower system. Example: Research organization or private sector company.
• Educate potential users: Use a small, portable biopower system as an educational tool. Example: Trailer mounted system that could be use to educate regional stakeholders.
• Small enterprise: Biomass residues can be used to provide the high grade heat and power needed to add value to locally available natural resources. This is especially valuable in areas having high poverty. Example: Small processing plant, such as a grain mill that produces biomass waste that could be used for powering equipment and drying the grain.
• Develop alternate uses for biomass: These customers will have access to an abundance of biomass and will be looking to develop applications for its use either as a source of revenue or to avoid other costs. Example: Forest Service desire to reduce forest fuel loading that could otherwise lead to degradation of forest health or increase the potential of forest fires.
• Disaster relief: Typically after certain natural disasters there is an abundance of biomass in the form of downed trees and construction waste. In addition power lines may be cut so that there is the potential that the biomass could be used to generate large amounts of AC power. In addition, waste heat may also be generated to sterilize water.
• Avoid disposal costs: Customers in this category will be able to use the biomass to minimize costs that might result from rules and regulations that affect the disposal of biomass. Example: convert wood pallets to on-site energy as opposed to shipping to a distant landfill.

Yes. To date we have developed systems having electrical capacities of 5 kW, 12.5 kW, 15 kW, 25 kW, 50 kW and 75 kW. We believe the max upside is in the range of 500 kW.

The BioMax is designed to compete against engine generators, renewable systems such as Photovoltaics and Wind, and propane.

Typical future commercial customers: US Army; Small wood-working companies; Nut and tree fruit processing companies; Buildings/greenhouses with gas-fired boilers; Lumber processing/drying companies currently using natural gas/propane; Off-grid Homeowners; Utilities; Farms and Farmer cooperatives; and Biofuels research organizations. Most of the future customers have the potential to accumulate biomass residues on-site, thereby eliminating collection and transportation costs.

The Energy Generation Systems Association reports that global annual sales of diesel engines less than 200 kVA exceed 300,000 units with a total market value of nearly $10B.

No, primarily due to the fully automated feature of the BioMax. It has pushbutton start and stop capability. However, it does require training in the operation, maintenance, and health and safety requirements.

Anyone who is qualified to operate a diesel engine can operate a BioMax.

No, but there are a variety of tasks involved mainly with the feedstock supply and maintenance that require regular operator intervention.

The longest that a BioMax has operated continuously without shutdown is 336 hours (14 days) for the 50 kW system.

It may not be prudent to run the system much longer than this due to the need for required periodic maintenance such as engine oil changes.

Yes, we have accomplished this in several states thus far. Experience shows that interconnection is a local issue, and some states are easier than others to achieve interconnect permits.

If not providing power to the grid, the power can be used on-site, and displace electricity at its retail value. In most states, delivering power into the grid is priced at a lower wholesale value.

Yes. We are selling systems to Research and Educational customers on a commercial basis. We are also selling our 50 and 75 combined heat and power systems on a commercial basis.

Currently we manufacture our systems at our Product Development Facility in Littleton, CO. Since we have exceeded the capacity of that facility, we will soon be manufacturing systems at a plant to be located in the US. In the long run we expect to have other manufacturing operations in Asia, Latin America and Europe.

Since there are a host of variables that affect system price, contact CPC to determine the cost of a system meeting your needs. The cost will be a function of the prime mover, capacity, location, fuel used, and quantity of systems purchased.

Yes, but one would have to perform an analysis looking at their own particular situation. The analysis should take into account such parameters as the intended application, installed capital cost, biomass cost, hrs of daily operation, peak load and daily energy requirement.

The best economics will occur when the user can save a lot of money by displacing high priced conventional energy (both electricity and natural gas for example) with readily available, low cost biomass. If the user pays to dispose of the biomass, then the economics can be extremely favorable.

For electrical applications, primary technology competitors include standard, fossil fueled, engine generators and small PV and wind systems.

Relative to PV, a technology with a multi-billion dollar a year market, and recently growing at >35% per year, our current low volume, pre-commercial BioMax 25 and 50 system are already more cost effective when compared on an equivalent energy basis and without subsidies or financial incentives.

For thermal applications, propane and natural gas are the major competing technologies. Biomass at levels from 0 to $4 per million btu can be extremely competitive when used to displace natural gas and propane that are subject to extreme price volatility and potential shortage.

In the biomass systems arena, there are very few competitors in the US. In India, there are several companies who have considerable experience in small biopower systems, however the systems tend to be larger, not modular, not highly automated, and unable to pass US emissions requirements. We believe there a few companies in Europe that offer similar sized systems, however, we are unaware that any have a market presence in the US.