FLEX FLORES is a European funded project (i.e., RFCS program) coordinated by RINA CONSULTING – CENTRO SVILUPPO MATERIALI S.P.A., involving six partners. The project aims at improving flexibility of combustion plants for power generation in terms of faster ramp-up rates and start-up procedures and optimization of coal/biomass co-fuels.

The activities of FLEX FLORES project are aimed at filling the current gap existing between the use of CFBC plants for power generation to their full integration in the new context described in the introduction. Aspects including the optimization of multi-fuels (mixes of fossil coal with low rank fuels including biomass) combustion and operational conditions to maximize the efficiency of the plant will be cared. Furthermore, mandatory aspects strictly related with the need to go from a “baseload resource status” to a “peaking resource status” at hours of high demand will be optimized as well.

A fully integrated approach is the best way to reach the goal. This approach involves different scales starting from laboratory activities supported by modelling and passing to validation at pilot/industrial plants aimed at the optimization of both multi-fuels/process aspects and material performances in flexible conditions. The results can be used as guidelines for retrofitting of existing plants and for the construction of new ones. Environmental benefits are also expected in terms of minimization of the pollutant emissions through the study of the control system and through the optimization of in service lifetime of both refractories for boilers and metallic alloys for heat exchangers.