The Environmental Plant Engineering Division of Ebara Corporation has received a presidential award for the internally circulating fluidized bed boiler (ICFB) for biomass-fired power generation in the 35th Excellent Environmental Equipment Award, sponsored by the Japan Society of Industrial Machinery Manufacturers. This award is given to excellent environmental equipment to encourage efforts to reduce the environmental impact in Japan and overseas.

　The awarded internally circulating fluidized bed boiler is Ebara’s original technology, and uses woody biomass as the main fuel to generate electric power. Compared with conventional technologies, this equipment can burn fuel at a low air ratio (high efficiency) and can reduce plant and maintenance costs (low cost). In addition, this equipment allows co-combustion with other fuels such as coal and waste tires, and can be flexibly and stably operated for power generation.

　As an example of a plant using the ICFB, Ebara has delivered it to a customer for a 21,000-kW biomass power generation facility that uses various kinds of wood waste for fuel. This power station sells the electric power to an electric company, and uses steam to dry wood in a neighboring sawmill. Further, neighboring plants use its residual steam. Because this power station is situated close to the sawmill, which provides its fuel supply, it is easy to transport the fuel (wood waste) to the facility. It is one of the largest woody-biomass-fired power stations in Japan.

　Up to now, Ebara has delivered five ICFB units for biomass-fired power generation. This equipment contributes to preventing global warming by reducing energy costs and carbon dioxide emissions generated when fossil fuel is burned.

Panoramic view of the biomass power station

Award ceremony