BILL TORRANCE
BSC CENG FIMECHE – THE ENERSEL ENGINE COMPANY LIMITED
A range of Advanced Conversion Technology solutions (Gasification, Pyrolysis etc) are now proven and accepted in the Waste to Energy sector, particularly in the conversion of plastic waste. Presented with variable waste feedstock, these process technologies directly produce variable CV gas and/or liquid fuels, which can be challenging to a downstream prime mover. This market is presently normally served by current OEMs offering adapted standard ranges of their gas and compression ignition engines, resulting in a significant derating of output and efficiency, as indicated by OEMs in their published performance data. Such adapted engines are also known to be very sensitive to variations and excursions in the properties of the selected fuel. In response to the stated demand from the ACT sector that this issue is properly addressed, the author’s company has developed a prime mover for this market by approaching it from the opposite end – that is, with an engine specifically designed a) for low-CV gas (5MJ/Nm3 and above) and b) to be tolerant to reasonable variability of whatever fuel is used.