OCR Text |
Show used to produce steam and hot water provided the following inputs: Fuel Consumption in Million BTU's Natural Gas 2,576,754 Distillate Fuel Oil 421,562 Residual Fuel Oil 1,610,768 Coal 65,054 Refined biomass could replace a major portion of the fossil fuels consumed by state agencies with only a nominal capital outlay for modifications and handling equipment. There are three methods of utilizing the pellets as an alternate fuel: 1. burning in suspension utilizing the same process as pulverized coal, 2. burning in a fire box or grate type furnace, and 3. burning in a gas generator in which the gas produced is transmitted to the boiler and burned just as natural gas. Preliminary operations have shown that fuel costs could be reduced as much as 158% if wood pellets replaced oil. Western State Hospital, Tacoma, Washington, a 3,000 bed mental hospital, has been burning Woodex exclusively for more than three years. In order to demonstrate to responsible entities of the State of Florida that refined wood products could be a viable alternate energy source, a demonstration burn at Florida State Hospital was planned and conducted. This institution was chosen because it has the required equipment on site, including three combination coal/oil burning boilers and the necessary handling and pulverizing machinery. Until 1977, coal was the primary fuel in the power plant; however, inability to comply with revised environmental regulations forced the hospital to change to n-unber 26-9 |