Keller HCW converts tunnel kiln for utilization of landfill gas
Using landfill gas at Austral Bricks
In 2012, Austral Bricks, Sydney, first asked Keller HCW about utilizing landfill gas for its tunnel kiln. In the past few years, Austral Bricks’ old clay pits have been filled with waste. Up to now the landfill gas has not been used as an energy source but flared off. In a concerted action of Austral Bricks and the landfill operator Veolia, the two pushed ahead towards the utilization of the landfill gas. In Keller HCW, a suitable partner was soon found to design a technical solution and realize the project. Keller HCW developed a landfill gas blower station that supplies the necessary primary pressure for the burner groups of the tunnel kiln and dehumidifies the landfill gas. In addition, Keller HCW converted four burner groups to dual-gas burners. These now enable the combustion of 225 m³/h landfill gas per group with around 5.6 kWh/m³N. Thanks to this conversion, in future Austral Bricks can flexibly switch between conventional natural gas and landfill gas as its energy source. After just three weeks conversion work, the new environmentally friendly installation was put into operation in November 2013. Already three of the four burner groups are operated constantly with landfill gas. The fourth burner group is scheduled to be started up soon. If the landfill gas yield forecasts are fulfilled, other burner groups will be converted to environmentally friendly dual operation in the future. All involved are delighted about this exemplary cooperation in environmental protection, as the installation is a win-win situation for everyone. Thanks to the now practical utilization of the landfill gas, the CO2 emissions are reduced by at least 3 500 t per year.
