Biomass Boiler: Cost of Producing One Ton of Steam
Biomass boilers, as important equipment for renewable energy utilization, are gradually replacing traditional coal-fired boilers in the industrial heating field due to their environmental friendliness and economy. In this article, experts from Dacheng Biomass Boiler will conduct an in-depth analysis of the cost composition, influencing factors, and optimization strategies for producing one ton of steam with biomass boilers.
I. Cost Composition of One Ton of Steam from Biomass Boilers
The steam cost of biomass boilers mainly consists of the following four parts:
1. Fuel Cost
Biomass fuel is the core expenditure, accounting for approximately 60%-70%. Fuel types include wood chips, straw, rice husks, etc. The price is affected by regions and supply chains. For example, the unit price of wood pellets ranges from 200 to 800 yuan per ton, with a calorific value ranging from 3500 to 4500 kcal per kilogram. Based on typical values, producing one ton of steam requires consuming about 150-200 kilograms of fuel, corresponding to a cost of approximately 150-400 yuan.
2. Operating Cost
Including electricity consumption (such as fans, feeding equipment), water treatment, labor costs, and daily maintenance. Taking a 6-ton boiler as an example, the electricity fee is about 10 yuan per ton of steam, the labor cost is about 10 yuan per ton, and the total maintenance and water treatment fees are about 9 yuan per ton.
3. Equipment Depreciation and Maintenance
The cost of the initial investment in the boiler allocated to each ton of steam needs to consider the equipment life. For example, the total investment in a 6-ton biomass boiler and supporting equipment is about 1.6 million yuan. Calculated by a 10-year depreciation period, each ton of steam is allocated about 3-5 yuan.
4. Environmental Protection Treatment Cost
Including environmental protection measures such as dust removal and denitrification, with a cost of about 2-5 yuan per ton of steam.
Comprehensive calculation: According to industry cases, the total cost of one ton of steam from biomass boilers is usually between 150 and 400 yuan, which is significantly lower than that of natural gas boilers (240-331 yuan per ton) and electric boilers (248-360 yuan per ton).
II. Key Factors Affecting Costs
1. Fuel Characteristics and Thermal Efficiency
The higher the fuel calorific value, the greater the unit steam output. For example, when the calorific value of wood chips is about 4000 kcal per kilogram, one ton of fuel can produce 3.5 tons of steam, while low-calorific-value straw may only produce 2.5 tons. The thermal efficiency of the boiler is also crucial. High-efficiency boilers (with thermal efficiency ≥85%) can reduce fuel consumption by more than 20%.
2. Equipment Automation Level
Automatic control systems can reduce manual intervention. For example, Dacheng biomass boilers adopt Siemens PLC and frequency conversion technology to realize full automation of feeding, air blowing, and slag discharge, reducing labor costs by 30%.
3. Supply Chain Management
Purchasing fuel nearby can reduce transportation costs. For example, for every 100 kilometers increase in transportation distance, the fuel factory price may rise by 10%-15%.
III. Strategies to Optimize Costs
1. Select High-Efficiency Boiler Equipment
Upgrading boiler technology is the core of cost reduction. For example, Dacheng biomass boilers achieve a thermal efficiency of over 83% through the optimization of secondary air layout and gasification combustion technology, with a fuel burnout rate close to 100%, significantly reducing fuel waste. Its closed screw feeding system can avoid the problem of backfire, further ensuring operational stability.
2. Fuel Localization and Diversification
Using local agricultural wastes (such as rice husks, straw) instead of high-priced wood chips can reduce fuel costs by 30%-50%. The corrosion-resistant design and multi-fuel adaptability of Dacheng boilers support flexible switching of fuel types.
3. Energy Performance Contracting (EMC)
Through the EMC model, enterprises can transfer equipment investment to service providers and pay according to the amount of steam used. Taking a 6-ton boiler as an example, the cost per ton of steam can be reduced to 210 yuan under the EMC model, saving more than 2 million yuan annually.
The cost advantage of one ton of steam from biomass boilers stems from the low-price attribute of renewable energy and technological progress. In the future, with the increasing policy support for biomass energy, this technology will play a more important role in the industrial energy transformation.
