Metso’s reliable valve and field instrument solutions to sustain performance of renewable gas production in GoBiGas, Sweden

Published Oct 08, 2012 15.00.00 +2 GMT

High efficiency of the production and operational reliability are the key performance indicators for an innovative plant that will be equipped with Metso’s valve and field instrument solutions.

Metso has received an order to supply valves and smart instrumentation for the innovative GoBiGas project in the Rya harbor, Gothenburg, Sweden. GoBiGas is a major project for Göteborg Energi AB that is starting a biomass gasification plant. The plant is currently being built by Metso Power and is the first of its kind in the world. The plant converts biomass into renewable biomethane gas, using the existing natural gas grid for distribution.

Metso has been selected to supply the state-of-the-art control and on-off valves together with intelligent and safety valve controllers for both the Gasification and the Methanation part of the GoBiGas project, phase one, to help the plant maximize process reliability at all times. The Metso offer was selected in a procedure following the Public Procurement Act, fulfilling all the technical and environmental requirements accordingly.

Reliable valve performance in demanding conditions is the key to ensuring safety, flow control accuracy, and reliability together with reduced process variability, which are key challenges in the gasification process. With the intelligent valve controllers featuring performance diagnostics and the safety valve controllers providing extensive safety valve testing and improved diagnostics data, predictive maintenance is possible, thus resulting in improved plant safety and minimizing the operational and maintenance costs of the valves.

Metso’s field solution delivery consists of a total of around 320 valves, including Finetrol eccentric rotary plug control valve, Butterfly valves, Neles RotaryGlobe valves, Segment and Ball valves, 145 intelligent controllers Neles ND9100 and about 60 new generation safety valve controllers Neles ValvGuardTM VG9000.

GoBiGas focuses on producing biomethane through gasification of biofuels and forest residues. The gasification system, together with the subsequent methanation and gas up-grading system, will produce high-calorific gas, biomethane, for distribution in the existing gas grid. This is the first plant of that kind ever and gas of this quality has never been produced continuously before from gasification.

The GoBiGas gasification plant will be built in two phases, the first being scheduled to be operational late 2013, and the second phase to be accomplished after the first phase has been evaluated.

Unique offering for the renewable energy industry

Metso has a unique and full range offering for control and on-off valves, actuators, intelligent controllers and field instruments for the renewable fuels industry. In Finland, there are examples of major refinery applications of Neles control and on-off valves. Jamesbury and Neles products are ideally suited to bioethanol production, which has led to their use in over 60 such plants, for instance in the USA.

Metso is the leading valve solutions and services provider whose Flow Control solutions include control valves, automated on/off and emergency shut-down valves, as well as smart positioners and condition monitoring. Metso’s world-leading brands include Neles, Jamesbury and Mapag.

Due to Metso’s strong position in advanced valves technology, services are a major part of the offering. For valve customers, Metso already has 32 service centers around the globe, all located close to our customers to offer service and support. The newest supply and service was opened in India earlier this year. Metso is a global supplier of technology and services to customers in the process industries, including mining, construction, pulp and paper, power, and oil and gas. Our 30,000 professionals based in over 50 countries deliver sustainability and profitability to customers worldwide. Expect results.

The Automation segment’s process automation and flow control solutions meet the growing needs of Metso’s customer industries to improve production process efficiency as raw materials and energy sources become scarcer and their costs increase. Our global network of service experts delivers business solutions to our customers that improve their productivity, lower risks and optimize costs.

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For further information, please contact: Kenth Edin, Sales, Metso Automation Tel. +46 70 556 5420, kenth.edin@metso.com