Prof. Dr. Ir.

Kamsani Abdul Majid

Dr. Adlansyah Abd Rahman
UNITEN Green Technology Initiative

GREEN TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL

Institute of Energy
Policy & Research
IEPRe

• POWER ENGINEERING CENTRE (PEC)

• NUCLEAR ENERGY CENTRE (NEC)
• CENTRE FOR POWER SYSTEM SIMULATION (CPSS)
• CENTRE FOR COM SERVICE CONVERGENCE TECH (CCSCT)
• CENTRE FOR STORMWATER & GEOHAZARD MGMT
(CSGM)
• CENTRE FOR ADVANCED COMPUTATIONAL ENG (CACE)
• CENTRE FOR FORENSIC ENGINEERING (CeFE) Ministry of Natural
• CENTRE FOR SYSTEM ENGINEERING (CSE) Resources & Environment
• CENTRE FOR POWER PLANT TECHNOLOGY AND
PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION (CPTPO)
• CENTRE FOR PHOTONIC TECHNOLOGY (CPT)
• CENTRE FOR SYSTEM & MACHINE INTELLIGENCE (CSMI) Local &
• CENTRE FOR RADIO FREQ & MICROWAVE ENG (CRFME) Oversea
Universities
 ~VISION~
To be a leading centre of excellence
and regional knowledge hub in
renewable energy
~MISSION~
CRE is committed to the advancement
of renewable energy sciences and
engineering through dedicated
research and development programs,
the development of technologies and
practical applications, and transfers
knowledge and innovations with
strong links to industry
~VISION~
To be the premier R&D
organization for the electrical
supply industry globally
~MISSION~
We are committed to excellence
in research & services
We want to enhance our
stakeholders interest through
leading edge technology
Partners and Collaborators
TNB Subsidiaries

Government Agencies

Commercial (National)

IHL (National)
IHL (International)
Commercial (International)
CRE Focus R & D Areas and Programmes

Biomass
•Solid Biofuel Programme Hydro
•Biodiesel Programme •Mini Hydro Programme
Solar
•Gasification Programme
•Off Grid PV
•Grid Connected PV
Programme
Alternative Energy •PV Cell Material
•Nuclear capacity
building
•Energy Harvester
Enabling Technologies
Research Programme
•Grid interconnection
•Fuel Cell & Hydrogen
•Smart Grid

Wind
•Building
Integrated LVWT Energy Hybrid Systems
Efficiency
•Waste Heat
Recovery
 Research:
Applied Research
1. Environmental Research
2. Power Plant Solutions
3. Power Transmission R&D
4. Power Distribution R&D

Advanced Research Services:

1. Green Technology • Engineering Consultancy
2. Smart Grid • Quality Assurance Services
3. Low Carbon Power Generation Technology • Laboratory Services
4. Emission and Waste Management • Environmental Services
Technology
 Co-Combustion of Biomass with Coal
Solid Biofuels Programme

Palm Residues as Biomass Fuel

Mesocarp
Fibre

Biofuel briquettes -
•increases bulk density
Palm Kernel Shell
•reduces moisture content Two-stage combustor to simulate real
(PKS)
boiler conditions

Empty Fruit Bunch

(EFB)

Computational fluid modeling used to

complement actual combustion trials
Solid Biofuels Programme Postgraduate Programme Opportunities
• Opportunity to improve existing
Biomass Testing Facility workforce
• Specialized training and involvement
• Calorific values in various issues in renewable energy
• Proximate analyses and green technology
• Ultimate analyses • Potential in becoming biomass/solid
• Fuel ash analyses fuel specialist in Malaysia/SEA region
• Masters/PhD courses available in
• Grindability and UNITEN
size distribution

Biomass Upgrading

• Bio-coke / bio-
char
• Briquetting
• Torrefaction
Capacity Building
Seminar & Conferences
Other Activities

International Seminar on Advances in
Renewable Energy Technologies (ISARET)

International Conference on Energy &
Environment (ICEE)

International Conference on Advances
in Renewable Energy Technologies
(ICARET)

Malaysian Nuclear Science Technology
and Engineering Conference
(NUSTEC)
Brain Gain Malaysia Program
(MOSTI)

Prof. Dr. Ooi Boon Teck, McGill Energy Institute, UK
University
CRE appointed to host
- Malaysia Wind Map the newly formed

Dr. Fereidoon P. Sioshansi, Menlo
Malaysia Branch
Energy Economics, California
- Keynote Speaker at ICEE 2009
- Electricity Generation in a Carbon
Constrained World
Planned Facilities
UNITEN Green Campus
• Solar PV (1 MW, roof-top, BIPV)
• Biodiesel internal transportation
• Free of Plastics Campus
• Smart Grid implementation
UNITEN RE Park
• Grid Connected Biomass Gasification Plant
• Solar PV Research Park
• 2nd & 3rd Generation Biomass / Biofuels
• Syngas/biogas Integration for National Gas Grid
• Green Energy Storage and Management
• LVWT Station
• Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Laboratories
Combustion Test Rig Facility
 Introduction
• Two stage cyclonic combustor to simulate pf boiler
– Cyclonic combustion to provide suspension firing conditions
– Primary reactor mimics near burner region (reducing atmosphere)
– Secondary reactor mimics complete combustion regions

Secondary /
Over fire air

Coal
Primary Secondary feed
reactor reactor

Primary
inlet Primary air

Secondary Region represented in primary reactor

inlet
Regions
Temperature profiles represented
of two-stage in secondary
combustor reactor
against a real pulverised coal boiler
Flow directions
Refractory lining (Source : Cardiff University
Pulverised coal furnace 2006)
Design of cyclone combustor
Biomass Combustion
Preparation

• Grindability and size distribution

− EFB required several processes when
grinding:-
− Hammer mill → oven drying →
crushing → knife milling Multipurpose lab grinder Fuel crusher

− Adaro and PKS processing :-

− Air dry → crushing → coal grinding
/ ball mill

TNBR technician preparing

equipment for size distribution Figure: Size distribution comparison on Adaro coal and EFB
Biomass Combustion
Experiment

exhaust

Sector 4
●T14
● T12 ●T13

Sector 3
● T10 ●T11

Sector 2
● T8 ●T9

from
Figure 7. Temperature profiles when firing various fuel blends in the
primary Sector 1
secondary reactor
reactor ● T6 ●T7
secondary air
– Similar trends observed across reactor
– Biomass only combusts earlier
●T6 – ●T14 : Thermocouple points
– Higher temperatures in lower regions may affect
Sectoral divisions of secondary reactor
slagging
Biomass Combustion
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

– Solver:
– GAMBIT: dimension and boundary construction
– Fluent: processor for simulation modeling
– Parameters
– Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equation
– Turbulence model: K-ϵ model
Model of cyclone combustor
– Energy equation: Non-adiabatic model in GAMBIT

Simulation of residence time flow of air Simulation of velocity profile to show swirling flow
inside the combustor
Biomass Combustion
Activities

Drying of biomass before Shredded biomass

testing and experiment during testing

Experiment test
rig in operation View from primary inlet
Biomass Combustion: Market
Biomass Combustion: Market
Biomass –a difficult energy source ….
… in view of:
•Logistics (handling, transport and feeding)
•End-use (combustion, gasification, processing)

Difficult properties are:

• Low energy density (LHVar= 10-17 MJ/kg)
• Hydrophilic
• Vulnerable to biodegradation
• Tenacious and fibrous (grinding difficult)
• Poor “flowability”
• Heterogeneous
Pelletisation:
• Homogeneous size, low moisture content, and
high density means efficient transportation,
handling and combustion
• High energy density
• Pellets are friable – can be pulverized as coal
• Provide dispatchable energy
Biomass Combustion
Market
Biomass Combustion: Market
Biomass Combustion: Market

Summary Market Projections of Biomass Pellet (in thousand tonnes)

Source: Wood Pellet Association of Canada

 Biomass Combustion
Market

Source: ECN (Energy Research Centre of Netherlands)

 Biomass Combustion
Biomass upgrading

Grindability of torrefied biomass

Technology Status
+ 50 development projects under way (EU & NA)
+ 10 claiming to be in production before end 2011
- eight distinctly different technologies
- only few front-runners with > 5 tonnes/hour

All have pros and cons, such as;

Source: ECN (Energy Research Centre of Netherlands)
- limited capability of handling small particles
- problems in producing durable pellets
- closing the gas loop
- high risk of dust explosions
- relatively good grindability characteristics
- limited experience with combustion
- hydrophobicity & leaching uncertainty
Energy Outlook in Malaysia
Generation Capacity 2009 (27,700 MWe)
Hydro, 7.6
Oil/Diesel, 5.8

Renewables,
5.3 Coal, 27.7

Gas, 53.7

Generation Capacity 2030 (33,300 MWe)

Source: Energy Commission

Hydro, 19
Coal, 32
Nuclear, 6

Renewables, 13

Gas, 30
Energy Outlook in Malaysia
Coal Power Plants

Sultan Azlan Shah Power Station

TNB Janamanjung Sdn Bhd
3 x 700 MWe ( +2 x 1000 MWe )*

Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Power Station Contributes to 37.352

Kapar Energy Ventures Sdn Bhd mil tonne CO2
2 x 300 MWe + 2 x 500 MWe

Jimah Power Station

Jimah Energy Ventures Sdn Bhd
2 x 700 MWe

Mukah Power Station

Mukah Power Generation Sdn Bhd
2 x 135 Mwe ( +2 x 155 MWe )*

Tanjung Bin Power Station

Tanjung Bin Power Sdn Bhd
3 x 700 MWe
Sejingkat Power Station
Sejingkat Power Corporation
Total installed capacity = 2 x 50 MWe
7680 MWe PPLS Power Generation Sdn Bhd
*( 10.0GWe by 2015) 2 x 55 MWe
Energy Outlook in Malaysia
Cofiring Potential eg.

Sultan Azlan Shah Power Station
TNB Janamanjung Sdn Bhd
3 x 700 MWe ( +2 x 1000 MWe )*

large oil palm mill ~100 tonne/hr of
FFB; 100km

several oil palm small mills ~ 30- 50
tonne/hr of FFB; within 50km

Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Power Station

Kapar Energy Ventures Sdn Bhd
2 x 300 MWe + 2 x 500 MWe

several oil palm small mills ~ 30- 50

tonne/hr of FFB; within 50km

paddy, coconut biomass pellet, 350
kg/hr; 30km
Biomass Costs (/tonne)
Paddy • EFB = RM18
Oil Palm • PKS = RM168
Jimah Power Station
Other Crops Jimah Energy Ventures Sdn Bhd • Local transport = RM5/km
Built Up Area 2 x 700 MWe
Coal = RM330
Source: Ministry of Agriculture

large mill ~100 tonne/hr ; 45km *surplus of Mesocarp Fibre,

several oil palm small mills ~ 30- 50 Rice Husk & Sawdust
tonne/hr of FFB; within 50km
Conclusion

• CRE and TNB Research able to provide services on biomass

combustion and characterization with state of the art
technology in Malaysia and regional area.
• UNITEN has the human capacity and facility to collaborate on
projects that is related to biomass quality upgrading,
particularly for the power generation sector.
• UNITEN requires industrial collaboration in knowledge and
assistance and capital cost capabilities.
• Biomass market is increasing in demand worldwide
• Malaysia with the right supply structure has expressed interest
in biomass combustion for power generation
• The approach is in line with the country’s goals in RE and green
technology agenda
Biomass Combustion
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

− Measurements from the secondary reactor

modeled as it represents the second stage
of a power plant furnace
− flame occur in sector 2 with coal only as
expected from experiment
− Coal-EFB blends show longer hot region
(flame) in sector 3 and 4, may affect heat
transfer regions of furnace Figure 8. Simulated temperature profiles comparison
of 100% coal and Coal-EFB blends

Table 2. Comparison of CFD simulation between 100% coal and coal-biomass blends
100% coal Coal-biomass blends
Temperature distribution peaks A more uniformed temperature profile throughout
observed (sector 2 and 4) combustor
Less intense devolatilization as coal A more intense devolatilization due to presence of light
has less light volatile matter volatile matter from biomass
Possibility of unburned char within Biomass would assist on further combustion of coal char
ash formation