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Since Nexterra was incorporated in 2003, the company has worked continuously to develop, optimize and commercialize its technology. Nexterra systems are designed to be reliable and highly automated. Systems are designed to the highest industrial standards with an expected operational life of over 30 years. Nexterra systems are scheduled to operate 350 days per year with five days planned maintenance every six months. Nexterra's Customer Support and Service team is available to support maintenance shutdowns and restarts.
Compared to conventional combustion technologies, Nexterra's gasification systems offer the following benefits:
1 Clean Syngas
Since Nexterra gasifiers produce an exceptionally clean syngas, heat exchangers remain clean and require minimal maintenance and downtime. Clean syngas can also be used to directly fire heating and drying applications such as veneer dryers, rotary dryers, lumber dry kilns, lime kilns and boilers.
2 Low Particulate Emissions
Nexterra gasifiers produce extremely low particulate emissions (typically <50 mg/m3) that may eliminate the requirement for air pollution control equipment such as multicones, electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) or baghouses depending on the fuel type and jurisdiction.
3 Design Simplicity
Nexterra’s systems are simpler in design with fewer moving parts than conventional combustion systems or fluidized bed gasifiers. There may be no requirement for either pollution control equipment or grate cooling systems, and no need for multiple ash collection points. This contributes to reduced capital cost, lower power consumption and fewer maintenance concerns.
4 Free Flowing Ash
Tightly controlled combustion temperatures in the fuel bed keep temperatures below the ash melting point. This eliminates issues often encountered with clinkering in conventional combustion systems, and produces a highly granular, easily flowing ash.
5 High Turn-Down Ratio
The output of the gasifier can be reduced to less than 20% of its maximum capacity while still maintaining stable operation.
6 Idling Capability During Low Load Periods
Nexterra gasifiers quickly ramp down into an idling mode where they can remain on standby for extended periods, such as a weekend shutdown, without consuming fuel, and then be brought back to full capacity within two hours. This enables operators to save fuel and avoids shutdown and restart during periods of low heat demand.
7 Fuel Flexibility
Nexterra gasifiers can accommodate a wide range of wood fuels including bark and white wood sized to 3-inch minus with moisture content up to 60%. For most applications, wood fuel does not require drying or special pre-treatment. Nexterra gasifiers may also be adapted for other biomass fuels.
8 Low Gasifier Temperature
Gasifier temperatures above the fuel pile typically remain well under 1000°F during operation for most fuels. Low temperatures, combined with low gas velocities, result in longer lasting refractory. This means that refractory requires less maintenance than in many conventional combustion systems.
9 Easy, Automated Operation
Nexterra systems are fully automated for unmanned operation with state-of-the-art PLC controls. The control system is designed to provide safe, efficient operation of the energy system.
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