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Following preliminary studies on power generation processes consuming sugar cane bagasse, the present one indicates the theoretical possibility of substantial gains of efficiency presently achieved at conventional mills. Although using the same basic proposition as before, i.e., a highly pressurized fluidized bed boiler to provide steam above the critical temperature to drive the steam-turbine cycle while the flue-gas is injected into gas turbines, the present configuration is an evolution from a preliminary study because it applies a more elaborate arrangement of equipment. As before, the present round also indicates that an important technical hurdle represented by problems of feeding solid particles to pressurized vessels might be overcome through the application of a slurry injection. Here, the alternative of a thicker slurry, with 40% (wt) solids, is considered. A comprehensive simulator for boilers and gasifiers and a process simulator to predict the main features of the steam and gas turbine branches are applied. Without too much effort, the present process might be applied to other biomass.

Following a preliminary study of power generation processes consuming sugar-cane bagasse; this second round indicates the possibility of almost doubling the current efficiency presently obtained in conventional mills. A combined cycle uses highly pressurized fluidized bed boiler to provide steam above critical temperature to drive steam-turbine cycle while the flue-gas is injected into gas turbines. The present round also shows that gains over usual BIG/GT (Biomass In-tegrated Gasification/Gas Turbine) are very likely mainly due to the practicality of feeding the biomass as slurry that can be pumped into the pressurized boiler chamber. Such would avoid the cumbersome cascade feeding of the fibrous bio-mass, usually required by other processes. The present stage assumes slurry with 50% added water. Future works will concentrate on thicker slurries, if those could be achieved. All studies apply a comprehensive simulator for boilers and gasifiers [CSFMB™ or CeSFaMB™] and a process simulator (IPES) to predict the main features of the steam and gas tur-bine branches.

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