MICINN‐DST Joint Workshop on Renewable Energy

Energy from Biomass
Work Supported BY MNRE

P. J. Paul
Combustion, Gasication and Propulsion Laboratory,
Department of Aerospace Engineering,
Indian Institute of Science
Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore 560012
 Overview
• Biomass and its potential for power 
g
generation
• Types of biomass
• Technology for biomass utilization
T h l f bi ili i
– Biomass conversion technologies
– Biomass gasification
– Engines
 Climate change
Climate change
• Increase in green house gases emission possibly 
leading to global warming and climate change
• Fossil fuels play a very important role in the 
economies and lifestyles of people throughout
economies and lifestyles of people throughout 
the world
• Can the global economy can be powered in ways 
C th l b l b di
that might have less impact on the environment 
b
because they discharge less carbon dioxide?
h di h l b di id ?
 How do biofuels reduce green house 
gas emissions?
• Bi
Biomass fuels as well as fossil fuels release carbon dioxide to the 
f l ll f il f l l b di id t th
atmosphere when burnt.
• Fossil fuels produce CO2 from carbon which was stored in the earth 
over several millions of years
l illi f
• if the biomass is produced sustainably, the growing trees and other 
plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during 
photosynthesis and store the carbon in plant structures.
h t th i d t th b i l t t t
• When the biomass is burned, the carbon released back to the 
atmosphere will be recycled into the next generation of growing 
plants.
l
• When biomass is used as fuel instead of fossil fuel, the carbon 
contained in the fossil fuels remain in ground instead of being 
released to the atmosphere.
• Fast‐growing trees can recycle carbon rapidly and will displace 
fossil‐fuel use with every cycle.
 Can CO2 growth rate be arrested by 
afforestation alone?
• Forests that are not harvested does not continue 
h h dd i
to accumulate carbon indefinitely.
• In mature forests photosynthesis nearly balances 
the carbon that is released to the atmosphere by 
respiration, oxidation of dead organic matter, and 
fires and pests.
• If fossil fuels are to be used continuously, then 
ever expanding afforestation would be needed to 
prevent increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the 
atmosphere.
 What is biomass?
What is biomass?
• Biomass is any residue from plant or animal 
i i id f l i l
matter.
• Sources
– Agricultural residues
– Energy plantation
– Biofuels
– Wastes from Argo industries
– Domestic and urban wastes
• Many of these will generate CO2 and other green 
house gases even if left unutilized.
g
 Types of biomass
Types of biomass
Biomass Components
– Sugars
– Oils
– Starch
– Cellulose
– Hemi‐cellulose
– Lignin
Leafy biomass –
f b Mostly cellulosic + some starch + 
l ll l h
some lignin
Woody biomass 50 % cellulose + 25 % hemi‐
Woody biomass – 50 % cellulose + 25 % hemi
cellulose + 25 % lignin
Seeds – Starch and/or oils
Seeds  Starch and/or oils
 Sources of biomass
Sources of biomass
• Kitchen wastes – fruits/vegetables/some starchy stuff 
• Market wastes  – similar  to the above ‐ Contain large 
amount of sugars/starch
amount of  sugars/starch.
• Sewage – contains starch/more complex biodegradable 
matter 
• Urban solid wastes –
b lid contains some biodegradable 
i bi d d bl
matter and a larger amount of matter that can be 
converted only by thermo chemical means (lignaceous, 
plastics, etc)
l ti t )
• Agricultural wastes – contains a large amount of 
matter that can be converted by thermo‐chemical 
y
means
• Plantation residues – same as above
• Energy plantation/ wild growth
Energy plantation/ wild growth
 Energy plantation
Energy plantation
• FFast‐growing trees can recycle carbon rapidly and will 
t i t l b idl d ill
displace fossil‐fuel use with every cycle.
• There plantations, either managed or not managed, 
p , g g ,
existing in India.
• Eucalyptus and casuarinas plantations for fuel wood and 
paper and pulp industries are examples of managed
paper and pulp industries are examples of managed 
plantations.
• Prosopis
p Juliflora is being utilized as biomass fuel in several 
g
parts of the country — an example of utilization of wild 
growth.
• Bamboo, under intensive cultivation, can generate biomass 
Bamboo under intensive cultivation can generate biomass
at a rate of more then 100 ton/ha/yr (Growmore Biotech, 
Hosur, Tamil Nadu)
 Availability of Bioamass in India
Availability of Bioamass in India
• Agricultural residues
i l l id
– Total Area: 143 M ha
– Crop production: 500 M T/ yr
– Residue generation: > 500 MT/ yr
g /y
– Surplus residues: 150 MT /yr
– Power potential: 20000 MW
Power potential: 20000 MW
• Other residues
– Forest residues
F t id
– Waste land
 National Biomass Resource Atlas of India
National  Biomass Resource Atlas of India

• A
An electronic atlas of India for excess biomass to enable 
l t i tl f I di f bi t bl
obtain local power potential
• Partners:
– Ministry of Agriculture (MoA, GOI) – their data base
– RRSSC (Regional Remote Sensing Centers of ISRO)
RRSSC (Regional Remote Sensing Centers of ISRO)
– Consultants and Apex Institutions appointed by MNRE, GOI
– Other institutions like Coir Board, Agricultural Universities, etc

•IISc – National Focal Point for acquiring, assessing and processing 
National Focal Point for acquiring assessing and processing
the data from various sources into digital maps on a GIS format to 
be used by industrialists, planners and others
 Remote Sensing
Data
Taluka
l k andd (ISRO-RRSSC)
District Level MOA, Other
Project Partners Gov. Sources
Surveys

The Scheme
of the Work
Statistical NFP,
Database CGPL, IISc
Census, Other
Boards &
Discussion, Ageences
g
Interactive
Meetings with AIs,
Consultants
GIS Based
B d
Interactive
Package
The Key
Key--Aspects of the Work
Work::
1. The Statistical Data Analysis
y and Compilation
Compilation.
p .
2. Graphical vectorisation for the base GIS layers
layers..
3 Integration
3. I t ti off remote
t sensing
i data
d t into
i t GIS layers
l
layers..
4. Strategies for crop identification – use of NDVI
(Vegetation Index) and AI (Artificial Intelligence)
techniques..
techniques
5. Create a strategy for stand alone use for a variety of
users
6. Provide options for dynamic queries with graphical or
tabular outputs
 The Main Features of the Package
g
• Statistical Data on crops, residues and estimate of surplus
residues taking account of the socially essential usage are
embedded as dynamic data
data..
• About 40 crops
p all over the country,
y, several of them having
g
multiple residues are accounted for
for..
• In a quick summary, 540 million tons/year of residue
leading to an excess of 120 to 140 million tons/year with
power potential of 15,
15,000
000±±1000 MWe is estimated having a
scope of distributed generation in 1–6 MWe range
range..
• Users can obtain the data from the Atlas,, the nature of
crops, residues, power potential of each district over the
country and also the estimate for the talukas
talukas..
Samples of the Views 
 Main Achievements of the Project

• A method of seamless integration of the data from all 
essential sources to generate a single electronic document to
essential sources to generate a single electronic document to 
be used as biomass resource atlas is developed and 
demonstrated.
• Methods for Crop Identification from land‐use data and 
remote sensing data for deriving coefficients from survey data 
and obtaining assessment of biomass resource spatially are
and obtaining assessment of biomass resource spatially are 
developed and used. 
• The atlas available at http://lab.cgpl.iisc.ernet.in/Atlas/
• Also at MNRE web site
 Biomass conversion technologies
Biomass conversion technologies
• Efficient utilization of biomass for energy
• Conversion of biomass to suitable forms of 
Conversion of biomass to suitable forms of
fuel
• Direct Combustion to generate thermal energy
Di C b i h l
• Advanced energy conversion devices
gy
 Technology Routes for Biomass Conversion
Technology Routes for Biomass Conversion
Biomass characteristics are relevant for conversion
Biomass characteristics are relevant for conversion
• Biomethanation – Biogas
• Gasification ‐
Gasification Producer gas
Producer gas
• Direct combustion
• Liquid Fuels –
Liquid Fuels – Non‐edible oil from trees 
Non edible oil from trees
Alcohols from sugarcane and biomass
Pyrolitic oil through fast pyrolisis.
oil through fast pyrolisis
Liquid fuels through FT synthesis from PG
• Reciprocating engines and gas turbines with 
Reciprocating engines and gas turbines with
liquid fuels, biogas and producer gas
 Biomethanation

•Sugars + starch Æ easily digested by bacteria (without or

with air)

• Vegetable and leafy wastes Æ digested by bacteria

even though not so completely or easily (time
requirement) again, without or with air.

•Woody wastes Æ difficult to be digested by bacteria

• Lignin requires fungi for digestion
Biomethanation route is well known for cattle dung and both China
and
a d India
d a have
a e vary
a y large
a ge number
u be o of p
plants
a ts for
o dodomestic
est c a
andd
community applications, The design is simple - a feed system and
a extraction system – hydraulic residence time of 30 to 40 days at
ambient temperature. This functions well at tropical conditions with
liquid temperatures ~ 25 to 35 C.
C
Biomethanation plants for liquid residues, such as sewage and agro-
industrial effluents are well established
At lower temperatures, performance goes down.
High rate Biomethanation techniques (35 and 55 C operations) can
improve the performance.
performance These have not been attempted with
bovine dung since the market cannot sustain the capital investment
costs.
In the above cases the solids content is about 10 %.
Other processes with lower content of water is also available.
• 1 kg of solids with 4 to 9 times the water will produce
about 50 to 120 g (30 to 70 liters) of gas.
• The composition of the gas is: 50 to 55 % Methane, ~ 1000
to 5000 ppm Hydrogen sulfide and the remaining amount
~ 47 % carbondioxide
• For distillery effluents one uses anaerobic digestion
technique
q to reduce the BOD/COD / of the effluent. These
plants use generally high rate biomethanation processes.
• The composition of the gas is 60 to 65 % Methane, 2 to 5
% Hydrogen
H d sulfide
lfid and d remaining
i i ~ 33 % CO2.
• The gas has a calorific value of 18 to 22 MJ/m3.
• A number of institutions are involved in research in this
area (eg. Agharkar Research Institute, IISc
 Liquid Fuels from biomass
Liquid Fuels from biomass
• N
Non-edible
dibl oilil from
f t
trees
• Alcohols from sugarcane and other biomass containing
largely cellulose/ sugar
• Pyrolitic oil through thermal degradation process
• A large number of trees store in their seeds, starch or
oils. Some of these are non-edible. They can be used for
power generation.
• These
Th are Rape
R seedd oil,
il Jatropha,
J h Jojoba,
J j b Mohua,
M h S l
Sal,
Pongemia, Cashew, Neem, Anderouba, Soumarouba.
• Indian government,
government in collaboration with public sector
undertaking and private partners, is taking initiative in
increasing the bio-oil production.
Biomass utilization for energy
(Thermal root)
B iom ass U tilisation
for Energy

Therm al Pow er Am b. Pr.

High Pr.

Boiler Steam turbine Gasifier

R/c engine Gas turbine

Mecha nica l Electricity

W a ter pum ping

Stoves Large Gasifier

Com bustors

Dom estic Industrial Gas Burner

 Thermochemical conversion Technologies
Solids
(Combustion)
• Use combustion process – on a grate/ fluidized bed –
to provide hot gases to be used to raise high pressure
steam and then extract power from steam turbine –
generator route (standard).
(standard)
• The calorific value of dry biomass is 16 MJ/kg.
• The air
air-to-biomass
to biomass ratio at stoichiometry is about 6.
(note for reference, the calorific value of fossil fuels is
about 42 MJ/kg and the stoichiometric air-to-fuel ratio
is 15)
• Several projects have been implemented with mixed
results
– L
Lackk off mechanism
h i f collection
for ll ti and
d distribution
di t ib ti off biomass
bi
residues
• Cost of energy critically depends on the biomass price.
 Cogeneration potential in India
Cogeneration potential in India
India has several industries which has potential 
g ( p )
for cogeneration. (ref: Teri report)
Industry Cogeneration potential (MW)
Sugar 5000
Paper 600
Cotton 500
Non‐agro‐industries 1400

Sugar industry is one large potential for 
cogeneration. 
 Cogeneration in Sugar Industries in 
India
• Sugar industry is one of the industries having 
g p g
large potential for cogeneration.
• The fuel for power generation is generated in‐
house.
house
• The potential for power generation in sugar 
industries in India is about 5000 MW
• The achieved potential is about 1000 MW
The achieved potential is about 1000 MW
 Gasification

• For power levels less than 2 MWe, the cost can be cut down by
using
i gasification
ifi ti t h l i
technologies and
d using
i th gas in
the i reciprocating
i ti
engines.
• Gasification of solid biomass occurs because of thermo-chemical
reactions at sub-stoichiometric conditions.
• Gas composition: CO = 20 %, H2 = 18 %,CH4 = 2 %, CO2 = 12 %,
H2O = 2 %, Rest =N2
• This gasification process captures between 78 to 82 % of the energy
in Biomass. Every kg of dry biomass generates 2.6 m3 of gas. The
gas has a calorific value of 4.5 to 5 MJ/m3. The stoichiometric air-to-
g
fuel ratio is 1.3 [note: 1 kg biomass needs 6 kg of air for combustion.
This is the same as the above calculation as follows: Biomass
requires 1.8 kg air for gasification. 2.8 kg of gas requires 2.8 times
1.4 kg air = 3.92 kg air – thus the total air required for combustion is
1.8 + 3.92 = 5.72, a value close to 6.0]
 Gasification contd.
Gasification – contd

• When used in dual fuel mode in diesel engines,

the dry biomass and diesel required are about
0 9 to
0.9 t 1 kg
k andd 60 to
t 75 mll per kWh.
kWh
• When used in producer gas engines, the dry
bi
biomass required
i d is
i about
b t 0.8
0 8 to
t 1.3
1 3 kg/kWh.
k /kWh
 The Gasification Process
The Gasification Process
z Biomass when heated looses volatiles leaving fixed 
Biomass when heated looses volatiles leaving fixed
carbon (about 20–25 %)
z The volatile matter reacts with air providing energy for 
p g gy
b
biomass heating and to raise the temperature of gases 
h d h f
to about 1200–1400°C.
z The hot gases thus produced, which contains CO2 and
The hot gases thus produced, which contains CO2 and 
H2O react further with the fixed carbon to generate CO 
and H2.
z These are endothermic reduction reactions and brings
These are endothermic reduction reactions and brings 
down the temperature to about 600–700°C.
z The IISc open top reactor has a second stage of 
oxidation‐reduction process to minimize the tar in the 
id ti d ti t i i i th t i th
product gases and to improve the carbon conversion.
 Work at IISc
Work at IISc
Novel reactor design
N l t d i
z Air is drawn from the top and from the air nozzles –
• Uniform distribution Air (~ 50-70%)
Biomass

A
z Broader high temperature zone Broader than in Stratific ation (upward
closed-top.
z Enough residence time
propagation of flame front)
B

A
Air
B
Grate

o Hot gases
1200 - 1400 C o
(700 - 800 C)

• Consistent high quality gas over the turn down ratio

• Varying biomass quality – can accept a variety of agro residues

The ratio of air flow rate from the nozzle to the top depends on the fuel
properties – size, density; the char consumption rate, etc
 Gas cleaning process
Gas cleaning ‐
• Gas has to be cooled and cleaned for end use application
Gas has to be cooled and cleaned for end use application
T and P levels of 100 ppm
T and P levels of 100 ppm and 1000 ppm
and 1000 ppm respectively in the raw gas at 350 
– 650
650°°C

– Cooling and cleaning is achieved by using a number of components
– These are cyclones and cooling devices by spraying water in scrubbers
– Further cleaning is achieved using chilled scrubbers
Further cleaning is achieved using chilled scrubbers

With this gas cleaning process it is possible to restrict the 
contaminants to ppb levels
contaminants to ppb levels
• Water is the only medium used for cooling and 
cleaning process Water treatment process
cleaning process. Water treatment process 
enables reusing of water
 Gasification Elements
Gasification Elements

1 5
4 6

2 3 1
0
8

7 9 11 12

Components
• The reactor
• Necessary
N cooling
li andd cleaning
l i system
t
- to meet the end use requirements
 Comparison of steam and gasification 
root for electricity generation
Steam Gasification
Elements Boiler steam turbine
Boiler, steam turbine Gasifier IC engine
Gasifier, IC engine

Technology Well established Reasonably matured

Skills required for  Low to medium Medium

operation
Installation cost 4 – 4.5 crores/ MWe 5 ‐ 6 crores/ MWe

Efficiency Reasonably high at  High efficiency can be 

several 100 MW level,  achieved at low power 
but low at lower power
but low at lower power  levels
levels
 Research on gasification process
Research on gasification process
• Single particle behaviour in various 
p
atmospheres
• Behaviour of packed beds
• Gasifier
G ifi modeling
d li
• Gas cleaning processes
gp
• Water treatment
 Research on Gasification process –
Single particle
Reactants : (a) CO2 (b) H 2O (c) air (d) O2

Kinetic and
CO2 diffusion
t b ~ d 1.03
1

0
dependence
CO 2
tc/ρ(s m3/kg)

Kinetic and
H2 O
-1

H 2O diffusion
10

t b ~ d1.2
0
-1.3
dependence
air
t b ~ d 10.9 air diffusion limited
-2
10

O2
T = 1273 K tb ~ d 2
O2 diffusion limited
0
10 -3

1 10
Conversion time for char reaction with
d 0 (mm)
1. CO2 is 3-4 times that of H 2O

2. H2O is comparable to air at dp > 8

mm
 Basic Research – packed bed
Basic Research packed bed

With increase in mass flux the front velocity initially increases and then reduces
‐ This fixes the turn down ratio of the gasification system
‐ Superficial mass flux and ash properties are used as design 
parameters
Power generation using producer gas

Using R/C engines

Dual – Fuel Engine

80% gas & 20% diesel

Gas Engine
100% gas
 Research on Engines
Research on Engines
• Basic Research – Experimental & Modeling
• Development
p of gas
g carburetion system
y
• Reliability tests - Long duration trails
• Collaborative work with Cummins India
– Adaptation of Natural gas engines
– Laboratory trails & Field monitoring
• Collaborative work with engine manufacturers
 How is PG different from NG in
engine?
• Th
The air-to-fuel
i t f l ratioti off PG is
i 1.3:1,
1 3 1 whereas
h for
f
NG it is 17:1 – this calls for a different carburetor
• PG has higher octane rating,
rating therefore can be used
sed
in engines with higher Compression ratio
• The flame speed of PG is higher ~ 20%; calls for
a different ignition timing setting
• The energy density of PG is lower ~ 20%,20% this
causes de-rating of the engine power
• The flame temperature is lower by about 300 K, K
implies different operating condition in the engine
cylinder
y and turbochargerg
 Analysis
y of Producer Gas Engine
g
Reasons for
de-rating with
PG

Energy
gy density
y Sub-optimal
p –
Reactant:Product
R t tP d t
PG < NG Turbocharger
< 12%
by 20 - 23%

Properties
p of Gaseous Fuel
Fuel Fuel Air/Fuel Mixture, Φ, Limit SL (Limit), SL Peak Product/
+ LCV, @ (Φ =1) MJ/kg cm/s Φ =1, Flame Reactant
Air MJ/kg Lean Rich Lean Rich cm/s Temp, K Mole Ratio

H2 121 34 4
34.4 3 41
3.41 0 01
0.01 7 17
7.17 65 75 270 2400 0 67
0.67

CO 10.2 2.46 2.92 0.34 6.80 12 23 45 2400 0.67

CH4 50.2 17.2 2.76 0.54 1.69 2.5 14 35 2210 1.00

C3H8 46.5 15.6 2.80 0.52 2.26 - - 44 2250 1.17

C4H10 45.5 15.4 2.77 0.59 2.63 - - 44 2250 1.20

PG 5.00 1.35 2.12 0.47 1.60 10.3 12 50 1800 0.87

a b c d
 Typical Applications
Application Requirement
Rural Electrification •Short duration ~ 4 – 6 hour/day, low PLF
•High
i h plant
l availability
il bili > 95%
•Load reasonably constant
Industrial - Captive
p •Continuous operation
p – 24 hr x 6/7 dayy a week
•High plant availability > 90%
•Large load fluctuations
Independent Power •Continuous operation – 24 hr x 7 day a week
Producer – grid lined •High plant availability > 90%
•Abilityy to take fluctuations in the grid
g (in( India))

Producer gas engine can meet each of the above applications

 Emission
1 Load ~ 80-90% 2

0.8 1.6
CO
g/MJ

g/MJ
0.6 1.2
NO, g

CO, g
0.4 NO
0.8

0.2 0.4

0 0
0 4 8 12 16 20 24
Time Cycle, Hour
Engine modeling
Engine modeling
 Some Case Studies
Some Case Studies
• Gasification technology is commercially deployed 
in India with mixed performance in the field
• A few manufacturers in India provides gasifiers
for industrial use
for industrial use
• While it has been proved in the field on 
commercial operations, optimal use still to be 
i l ti ti l till t b
achieved
• Biomass collection and distribution still to be 
p
developed
 Grid connected 100 kWe biomass 
gasification power plant in Karnataka
• 0
0.8 MWe
8 of gasification power plant connected 
f ifi i l d
to the grid in Karnataka as a part of Biomass 
E
Energy for Rural India a program under 
f R l I di d
GoK/UNDP/MNRE
• The project is being implemented in five village 
clusters with a total of 26 villages in the state of 
K
Karnataka, India 
k I di
• The project had six gasifier based power plants 
composed of two 100 kWe and one 200 kWe in 
different villages
Performance details
Performance details
Beach Mineral Corporation –Tamil 
Nadu 1.5 MW
 Performance

• In the last 12 months the system has operated for 
14500 hours (~ 7250 each) of operation 
generating about 4.0 million units of electricity 
b ll f l
using about 5500 tons of biomass.
 Heat treatment Tahafet Hosur
Heat treatment –Tahafet, Hosur
• Eight furnaces and temperatures vary from 
600 C to 1000 C 
• Each furnace is fitted with two burners having 
air to fuel ratio control and also a PID
air to fuel ratio control and also a PID 
controller to oversee the operations. The 
industry operates on three shifts for about 6 
h hf f b
days in a week
• Typical LDO consumption per day = 1500‐2000
 Heat treatment contd
Heat treatment .. contd
• 300
300‐kg/hr capacity installed
k /h it i t ll d
• All the eight furnaces are 
connected to the gasifier
connected to the gasifier
using WESMAN make dual‐
fuel burner. The temperatures 
i th i di id l f
in the individual furnaces are 
maintained independently.
• With 8 furnaces connected 
With 8 furnaces connected
presently to gasifier saving is 
about 2000 litres/day.
• Average fuel consumed per 
day 5.2 ton of coconut shells, 
woodchips
• Total operating hours ~35000
5 MW th for heat application
5 MW th for heat application
Performance using briquetted fuels
Performance using briquetted fuels
• Agro residue briquettes tested at 20 % ash
– Same gasification system can handle 1 to 20 % ash
g y
– Gas quality acceptable for engine
– SFC consumption similar on ash free basis
SFC consumption similar on ash free basis
• Fuel quality requirement
– Thermal stability of the briquette important
– Density and binding an important property
Density and binding an important property
Future Directions and possible areas of 
cooperation
• Fuel cells for increased efficiency
l ll f i d ffi i
– High temperature fuel cells operating directly on 
producer gas.
d
• Liquid fuel generation (FT process) for generation 
transportation fuels.
i f l
– Work in progress at IISc and IIT Guahati
• Hydrogen from biomass
– Generation of hydrogen rich syngas and hydrogen 
separation.
– Work in progress at IISc