Non-standard medium-calorific gases

Non-standard medium-calorific gases, such as mine gas extracted from hard coal mines or other waste fuels with similar properties, represent a significant source of energy which, due to their non-standard composition and high variability of parameters, is often not fully utilized. Their calorific value may range from several to over 20 MJ/Nm³, while methane and other component concentrations fluctuate dynamically depending on process conditions. For many technologies, such fuels are difficult to manage, as they typically require drying, cleaning, and often costly compression to achieve stable combustion conditions before being fed to the burner.

ICS solutions eliminate this barrier. For medium-calorific gases, we apply swirl burner technology installed in fire-tube boilers, where the combustion chamber serves as the main flame tube. Thanks to the special design of our burners, stable and efficient combustion of gases with variable calorific value is possible without the need for additional compression. Only a few kilopascals of overpressure are sufficient for safe and effective fuel delivery to the combustion process. Moreover, ICS technology enables the use of raw gas without the need for drying or purification, significantly reducing both investment and operating costs.

As a result, the plant gains a simple, reliable, and cost-effective solution. The energy contained in mine gas and other medium-calorific fuels can be converted into process heat or steam while simultaneously reducing methane emissions and improving the facility’s environmental performance.

Implementation example – Jastrzębie-Zdrój

As part of a project executed for PGNiG Termika in Jastrzębie-Zdrój, we implemented a combustion system for mine gas with a calorific value ranging from 10.8 to 25.2 MJ/Nm³. Through the use of swirl burners, efficient and stable combustion of this non-standard fuel was achieved without the need for costly preparation – no compression, drying, or cleaning was required. The recovered energy was used to produce domestic hot water, reducing methane emissions to the atmosphere and improving the plant’s energy efficiency. The waste gas flow rate was 4,000 Nm³/h, and the combustion system output reached 15.0 MW. In addition, the burner was adapted for the combustion of diesel-type thermal oil.