Best practise

Luban Heating Plant

It was first project in Poland that include complete modernisation of district heating sys-tem (demand side management, DSM) with a strong use of RES (supply side manage-ment, SSM). Additionally, model contracts with local farmers securing fuel supply were signed.
Fuel is bailed straw from the surrounding agricultural farms.
SSM included: 1 MW straw boiler, with dedicated equipment, two straw boilers 3,5 MW each, straw storage buildings 800 + 1060 m2. The heating company also bought three straw bailing machines, three tractors, two loaders, two low landing gear platforms to secure regular supply of raw material.
DSM measures included: seven new and modernization of 27 heating systems (installation of building heat control systems, high performance heat exchangers and heat meters) plus seven brand new systems installed.
Straw-fired boilers are based on locally harvested fuel. Energy and economy security are ensured by coal boilers (about 70% of heat production), optimization of cost and security of supply in the straw supply is provided by its own system for collection of fuel.
Basic equipment of boilers consists of: preparation and transportation of straw equipment, stepped grate, automation and control system.
The basic requirement of the selection of boilers for straw was flexibility regarding moisture of straw and resistance to mechanical damage. A feeder chain moves to the straw bales to the shredder. Shredded straw is fed to the boiler combustion chamber using a screw feeder through the fire airlock. Combustion on the grate and the chamber of the boiler is automatically controlled. Low-speed chopper shreds straw bales with moisture content up to 23%. Straw shredder cuts short cuts, making it impossible to wrap the straw around the axis of the feeders. Boilers are equipped with stepped grates with adjustable primary, allowing an optimal adjustment of the fuel combustion of varying quality.
The heat is supplied to a housing establishment of ca. 15 000 inhabitants