The project of straw use in the village of Hrušov can be taken as a model example for the region. The heat value of straw (14.6 GJ/t) is comparable to that of brown coal (15.8 GJ/t) and the straw has a much better emissions performance. The low production of ash, the possibility of automatic mode operation, lower operational costs (up to 50%) but also the perspective of own fuel production (cultivation of fast-growing energy grasses) gives the project its positive characteristics and the possibility of regional extension. In Slovakia there are currently only two projects using straw as fuel in operation and the project in Hrušov was the first to use a Slovakian burning technology.

TECHNOLOGY

In the elementary school of Hrušov the Slovak biomass-technology of the Kovoobrábanie Klačno Company has been used for the replacement of the previous coal burning technology.

The first part of the new heating system is a storage room with a crane for offloading the straw bales and some conveyor belts for placing these into the shredder. The shredded straw is automatically transported to the boilers. The amount of straw needed is automatically managed according to actual heat use.

The boiler area itself is equipped with two boilers (type KBS 400 and KBS 200) with a total output of
600 kW. Each boiler has its own chimney with an interceptor. The ash from the boilers is transported via a pipe to the third area, the ash room with two containers. The fourth part is the machine room, containing the water tank and an exchanger.

The reference usage of straw for one season is 310 tonnes. For comparison: 290 tonnes of brown coal had been burned previously.

back

ECONOMIC ASPECTS

The whole investment cost EUR 303 200 (SKK 10 132 633), 95% of which was financed by a grant of the European Union, the remaining 5% by the municipality of Hrušov village.

back

SOCIAL EFFECTS

The mayor and the employees of the municipality prepared and realized the project. For this no new people needed to be hired. Two people work in the reconstructed boiler as operating personnel, they are paid as part-time employees or on an hours worked basis. The project’s main focus was on improving the economics and efficiency of the operation by decreasing both input costs and environmental impacts; the project did not really have a significant social orientation. Therefore comparatively little information has been provided to the population.

back

ENVIROMENTAL EFFECTS

Due to the fuel shift from coal to the renewable energy source straw, the annual consumption of 290 tonnes of brown coal can be avoided. This leads to a significant reduction in CO₂-emissions.

back

DIFFICULTIES, PROBLEMS

A smaller problem of the project is the dust arising through shredding the straw and through the dispersing of straw particles, especially during high winds. Another problem is the increased need for electricity, as the whole process operates with more than twenty electrical engines.

back

FOLLOW UP

The next stage of the project is to connect the building of Hrušov municipality to the biomass heating system. The capacity reserved for this is 150 kW.

back

FURTHER INFORMATION

Hrušov village
Ing. Pavel Bendík - mayor
Information Centre: +421 47 488 02 22

Tel: +421 47 488 01 22
Fax: +421 47 488 01 27
E-mail: obechrusov@slovanet.sk
Web: www.hrusov.sk

back