Update: 21st January, 2008
Plant operations commenced on January 7th following the plant shutdown for the holidays. During the shutdown regular maintenance was conducted and minor improvements were made to piping layout and to production flows.
Plant start-up and shutdown protocols were updated taking into consideration production experience to December 21st. The protocols were put into practice, resulting in a more efficient and reliable start up and production process.
Production runs: Since start-up, five production runs were completed at various feeding rate capacity sustaining a 40 % capacity with peaks at higher rates. BioOil produced met specifications.
Dynamotive’s and Evolution Biofuels´ target is to accumulate hours of plant operations and complete production of BioOil for committed test programs. Target for completion is January 30th.
Deviations / Exceptions (summary):
January 8th: Operators commence start up procedures and gradual warming up of plant. As plant reached operational temperatures fluidization of reactor is determined to be not optimal. Plant is cooled down and inspection of reactor is conducted. Corrective action is taken and plant uneventfully restarted. Maintenance manual updated. Issue not repeated.
Reasons for production stoppage: biomass off specification resulting in gumming of plant. Resolution: stopped supply of biomass from third party. Action: clean heat exchangers and restart plant. Adjust biomass testing protocols prior to acceptance. Update preventative maintenance procedures and spare equipment requirements to reduce stoppage time in future.
Condensation in biomass silos resulting in higher moisture levels in biomass and blockage. Resolution: adjust start up and shut down protocol. Action: test new protocols. Result: issue did not repeat itself.
Online filtering of BioOil: mixer and filter clogging creating backpressure. Resolution: adjust biofuels flow to mixer and increase filter capacity. Action: adjusting flows resulted in better performance of mixer allowing filter to operate efficiently. Production manual adjusted. New filter (higher capacity) on order.
Summary:
Plant commissioning is progressing with no significant faults and/or design and operational issues arising. Biomass supply is limited given weather conditions. This is expected to improve in coming weeks.
Plant visits completed by major oil company and executives and research staff, and potential technology licensors in December and in January. Plant status during visit was operational.
Update: 21st December, 2007
Click hereUpdate: 20th November, 2007
Pyrolysis plant (Dynamotive supplied equipment) started operations on Monday, November 12th. First production runs took place on Tuesday, November 13th, at 40% capacity. Operations stopped for adjustments to feeding system sequence, and to inspect and clean tanks and pipes. Plant was ready for start up on Thursday. Another production run at the same capacity was conducted Friday, feeding system sequence during production run was correct and continuous. Feeding stopped during the weekend for inspection of pre-feed sawdust screening and product screening operations. Visual inspection and clean-up completed Monday and Tuesday, November 19th and 20th, by Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Plant is ready for operations. Runs at further capacity are planned for this week. Photographs will be posted shortly.
Update: 6th November, 2007
Guelph and West Lorne operations continue to progress as planned. Guelph operational teams are on site in preparation for training and handover of plant to Evolution Biofuels which owns and operates the plant under commercial arrangments with Dynamotive. As the Guelph plant commissioning nears completion, negotiations for the sale and supply of biofuels from Guelph and West Lorne are taking place. As well there is continued development work in connection with new potential products from our biofuels.
Dynamotive continues to make substantial progress in implementing its business plan, and is actively moving a large number of business development opportunities forward in Latin America, Canada, Europe, Australia and the U.S.
The Company will provide an update on its Guelph and West Lorne activities, including plant commissioning, biofuels marketing, and product development, when the Q3 results are filed on or before November 29th. Material facts will continue to be disclosed as they occur. All updates are subject to forward looking information disclaimers included on all Company news releases.
Update: 18th September, 2007
On September 14th, 75 global fuel experts toured the Guelph plant. The plant was operational, and for the first time the full cycle of production from wood chips to BioOil was demonstrated publicly, including successful demonstrations of all equipment in the wood preparation area, sawdust transportation from the hammer mill to silo, and silo to reactor.
The plant had previously undergone testing and inspection processes by regulatory and technical authorities in readiness for continuous operation. Previous tests conducted demonstrated the capacity of the plant to operate at its nominal capacity of 200 tonnes per day biomass input.
Other significant activities since the last update include:
Final ESA field inspection has been approved allowing for the provision of electricity from the Ontario power grid to the pyrolysis plant and the feedstock preparation building. Final connection to the Ontario Power Grid completed.
Municipal utilities completed: Fire water, service water, sanitary sewer, and utility gas connected and pressure tested.
Next update: Material changes will be made public as they occur.
Update: 20th August, 2007
Completion work at the plant continued once the test phase was completed (for further information on tests conducted please refer to previous updates). Work is expected to be complete within two weeks and continuous testing for handover of plant will then follow. Final permitting of the plant is underway with the following to report:
All electrical equipment has received approval from the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). Final ESA permits expected to be issued next week allowing for the provision of electricity from the Ontario power grid to the pyrolysis plant and the feedstock preparation building.
Final inter-connections with municipal utilities (fire water, service water, sanitary sewer, and utility gas) being completed- target 31st August.
Evolution Biofuels completed feed system for continuous operation. Feed system will be commissioned with high voltage power connection to the Ontario power grid starting this week.
Process piping installation is completed and preparation is underway for winterization of plant.
Next update: Tuesday 18th September PM, PST. Guelph updates will be provided monthly – material changes will be made public as they occur.
Update: 11th July, 2007
In the last days of June, the first burner test using BioOil produced from the Guelph plant took place. The successful BioOil combustion test was conducted over a 7 hour period of operation, including start-up, shut-down, and safety tests. The significance of this test is that the heat required by the pyrolysis reaction was provided by the combustion of on-site produced BioOil. This is referred to as a closed loop system - BioOil produced by the plant is used in the burners to provide the heat required by the reactor in the process of producing BioOil. A photograph of the first BioOil combustion test can be viewed on the Guelph photographs page.
Other significant activities include:
Next update: Monday 20th August PM, PST. Guelph updates will be provided monthly.
Update: 22nd June, 2007
Since last update inspection of the plant equipment by Tecna was completed and the plant was deemed to be in good operational condition.
The plant was put into operation Monday June 18th for further feed and capacity test production runs; operational condition was reached early Tuesday. On Tuesday June 19th a number of production runs were attempted with rates of feed starting at 120 tonnes per day rating and growing to 150 tonnes per day rating. This was consistent with previous operating experience.
After operational parameters were verified, the plant manager decided to feed the plant at its rated capacity of 200 tonnes per day. At 9:10 pm a production test started and this capacity was reached soon thereafter. A total of 1.4 tonnes of prepared sawdust was injected into the operating plant. The feed was processed in a 10 minute production cycle.
A second run was then conducted to verify and confirm feeding ratios and plant operating parameters. The same feed ratio was achieved signaling that the equipment can operate at plant nominal capacity. After verification of operating parameters – feed at 200 tpd and, processing of bio mass in the reactor at that capacity, the plant was stopped.
Feed Preparation: Work continues on site as shown in our photographic updates, it is expected that feed material will be available to the plant by July 1st in accordance to plan. No deviations are expected at this time.
Once feed is prepared is verified for consistency and quality a series of continuous runs are planned at increasing feed rates. Start date operational runs expected second week July.
Next Update: Wednesday 11th July PM PST.
Update: 8th June, 2007
Inspection work continues; plant being readied for further production runs.
Work on feedstock handling progressing as planned.
No material changes to report.
Next Update: Friday 22nd June PM PST.
Update: 5th June, 2007
Work continued as planned.
Equipment was verified with no material issues to report.
Plant inspections are ongoing and will be reported once completed.
Next Update: Friday 8th June PM PST.
Update: 29th May, 2007
The plant was in operation during the past weekend.
Four runs were completed at different feed ratios; feed ratios consistent with previous runs were achieved with peak feeding, exceeding those previously achieved (120 tons plus). New injection points into the reactor were commissioned showing capabilities to reach design capacity. The plant has two banks of feeding points and during the runs they were tested independently at design capacity rates.
Next planned run all banks are to be tested. Data is being reviewed by the supplier and plant operators to fine tune the system.
Burner system: plant reached operational temperature within 10 hours of start up.
Once feed started, non condensable gases were re-circulated to fire burners. The plant reached full stability of reaction with non condensable gases generated from the process.
Equipment dismantling: Key equipment is being inspected after first operational runs.
No significant issues were reported. Review and inspection of plant is expected to be complete Friday June 1st.
Inspections: Inspections by TSSA (Technical Safety Standard Authority), ESA (Electrical Safety Standard) and PSR (Pre Start Review) are expected this week.
Coming Weekend Activities: Operator training on site – plant to be put in operational status. Plant manager to decide production runs based on operator training status.
Next Update: Tuesday 5th June PM PST.
Update: 25th May, 2007
After the 2 initial runs were completed and given the stability of the plant, a further production run was done. During the 3rd run, feeding ratio of approximately 120 tpd was achieved. It was then decided to shut down the plant and evaluate data obtained. The data showed that the feed system needed minor adjustments to optimize its performance. These adjustments were completed Friday afternoon. Reactor and balance of plant performed within parameters. The plant is now being prepared for further production runs during the weekend at higher capacities. Work continues on the biomass handling area and balance of plant with expected completion by end of June.
Next update: Tuesday 29th May PM PST.
Update: 24th May, 2007
First Production of BioOil Plus at Guelph Plant. For further details please refer to full text of the public release. Dynamotive's Chairman Mr. Richard Lin and President and CEO Andrew Kingston wishes to extend to all involved in the project congratulations on achieving production milestone.
Update: 22nd May, 2007
Since Sunday update the following activities took place: Flange adjustment inspected and approved by technical safety officer. Feed system adjustments completed and feeding to fluidized bed reactor tested successfully. The feeding test was conducted with bed fluidized at ambient temperature. Feed was injected and recovered from reactor. Reactor inspected and closed. Plant was declared ready for second hot run Tuesday 1 pm Pacific Standard Time. Upon completion of visual inspections heating of reactor commenced. Target of next test: Reach operational temperature and maintain operational parameters; review individual equipment performance and system on hot basis. Replicate full system stability as achieved in initial hot run and report readiness status to head office.
Next Update: Friday 25th May, 2007 PM PST.
Update: 21st May, 2007
Cold System Testing underway. Feed system adjustment completed, currently under testing. Flange completed Sunday PM.
Next Update: Tuesday 22nd May, 2007 PM PST.
Update: 18th May, 2007
In preparation for production, a 36 hour hot run of all systems was completed successfully. Nitrogen, Burner, Reactor, Cyclones, Seperator, Quench and Balance of plant OK, Feed and Flange Systems need adjustments.
Next Update: Monday, 21st May, 2007 PM PST.
Top