ORC-project in Belarus

Location: Minsk, Belarus
Project: ORC-module, 1,3 MW
Manudacturer: Turboden s.r.l.
Customer: Minskkommunteploset

In 2015 we finalized one of our important projects in domain of renewable energy. As a result, the fifth ORC-plant was started in Belarus. The customer in the project was Minskkommunteploset, one of the biggest heating suppliers in Minsk.

Why did we choose ORC-technology?

Alternative energy maintains reputation of an important part of sustainable development. Energy generation based on use of non-traditional sources is not only a good way to save ecology, but also an valuable solution for countries with limited natural sources. Belarus is one of such countries and traditionally it depends on import of gas and oil. Therefore, program on diversification of energy sources was accepted on the governmental level. Within its realization, co-generation plants gained high broadening.

ORC-technology is quite simple: a heat source (in our case these were boilers burning wood chips) warms up a thermal oil circuit that transfers heat to working fluid. Organic fluid moves through the ORC circuit and turns into steam making a turbine to spin. The turbine is connected to an electric generator. Meanwhile, organic fluid steam gets cooled by means of service water, is condensed, and moves to the beginning of the circuit back as fluid. You can find more about ORC technology here.

Project realization

Minskkommunteploset as a big energy supply enterprise took part in the National program of renewable energy sources popularization. In the village Sosny (near Minsk), there was built a new boiler-house that works on the wood chips.

1,3 MW ORC-module won a tender as a co-generation plant. During the winter period boilers work at capacity and produces enough energy to load the module, which produces maximum amount of electric energy and heat for needs of Sosny village. During summer time heating needs are reduced and consequently module load goes down. In this period small amount of electric energy is produced, accompanying heat is used for warming up water for local needs.

We offered equipment of Turboden s.r.l. (Italy), a company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries group. Italian company is a pioneer in engineering, and has a long history of successful manufacturing and maintaining ORC plants for various applications. Therefore, we chose this company as our reliable supplier.

Within project, a new room for module was built in accordance with all strict safety requirements of Turboden. Our company provided equipment and spare parts supply in full and on time, provided all required certifications and passed clearance procedures. On one of the project stages, we involved our partner company Energotechservice as an expert in mounting works. Our specialists together with Turboden representatives executed supervising, startup of the plant and training of customers’ personnel. In 2015, the complex produced the first kilowatts of energy.

Due to the contract, SIA Altenergy keeps on providing guarantee services for the plant. For convenience of the customer, we sub-contracted a Belarusian partner company for execution of maintenance services.

In total

ORC project has become a great challenge for us and we are proud that we managed to finalize it successfully and fulfill all the customers’ requirements and wishes. At the same time, it is an invaluable experience for us and our contribution into development of renewable energy in Belarus. Since several years the plant effectively works and produces electrical and heat energy for range of houses and objects, brings a return to Minskkommunteploset.

Brine suction pumps

Location: Soligorsk, Belarus
Contractual items: pumps with control system
Manufacturer: Flowserve B.V., the Netherlands
Customer: Belaruskali

In 2017, we took part in another important tender in the Republic of Belarus. The huge Belarusian chemical enterprise, Belaruskali, acted as the customer of pumps for specific needs.

Item of supply and its characteristics

In order to provide ecological safety of production, special storages for spent solids and brines are built during construction of mining processing plant. The most typical kind of emergency for potash mining is unexpected water and brines irruption from underground water-bearing horizons into worked-out areas of mines. Brine suction pumps are used for brine transfer from salt tailings to the brine storage. On the other hand, they serve to prevent serious consequences in case of brine flooding. In our project, we were to solve the second type of issue and to propose such “protection” pumps. Specific characteristics of such equipment arise from severe exploitation environment: it is to work at great depths and under high-heads.

Supplier

We chose Flowserve as producer for this project, since it has a reputation of worldwide leader in manufacturing and maintaining of pump equipment. The corporation has also a great experience in engineering of equipment for specific applications. Stability and high-performance of proper chosen and installed equipment is crucially important for mining. So, we managed to prove reliability of our solution and took part in the tender as official sales representatives of American corporation.

Realization stage

Within this project we put emphasis on engineering. In collaboration with Flowserve specialists, we provided the customer with additional detailed design that contributed a lot into our victory in tender. During realization stage of project the customer placed additional requirements for automation and electrical supply of pump equipment. As a result of needs analysis and long negotiations, we succeeded to choose equipment and control system that satisfied the customer in price and quality.

In total

The Belaruskali project became for us one of the most important ones. Within it, we managed to do a great specific and very interesting for us engineering work. Due to close contact with our supplier we succeeded to break new ground and improve our professional skills. At the same time, pump equipment became our company’s division.