How does the BioMax generate electricity?
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.
