Abstract
The Billings Factory is the only remaining Western Sugar Cooperative (WSC) factory with coal boilers. WSC is looking at technologies to replace these boilers with reduced carbon emissions technologies. These include higher pressure natural gas boilers with steam turbine electrical generation capability for the base load steam production. This will be supplemented with photovoltaic electrical (PV) generation coupled with a thermal battery to allow for steam and electrical generation 24 hours/day. The PV system would be used to generate electricity year-round with surplus being sold to the grid when the factory is not operating. The thermal battery would allow for dispatching electrical energy from PV during peak usage utilizing the steam turbine generator set. In combination with steam conservation projects, the overall carbon footprint will be reduced by 50-75% at the completion of this project. The PV/Thermal Battery system is modular so further reductions in carbon emissions are available with additional spending. A Phase I study partnered with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories and Magaldi Technologies, LLC is underway. This paper will discuss the technology and findings of this study.
