Conversion of Biomass Energy into useful energy.

By the method how it is utilized. Direct (heat energy obtained by burning

wood, agricultural waste or Dung cake etc. as in stove (Chulo)

Indirect (first converted into a convenient

or suitable fuel in the form of solid, liquid or gases)

Conversion of Biomass Energy into useful energy.contd..

By the process of energy conversion
Thermochemical (Combustion, Gasification and
Methanol Production)

Biochemical Chemical

(Anaerobic digestion Ethanol Production) (Biodiesel and lubricants.)

and

Biomass Energy Technology

Technologies Direct Combustion Wood Agricultural waste Municipal solid waste Conversion Process Major Biomass Feedstock
Energy (Or) Fuel Produced

Heat Steam Electricity

Gasification
Pyrolysis Methanol Production Anaerobic (Biogas production)

Thermochemical

Producer Gas (Low or medium Btu)

Synthetic fuel oil (biocrude) Chracoal Methnol Medium Btu gas (methane)

Biochemical Aerobic (Ethanol Production)

Animal manure, Agricultural waste, Landfills, Waste Water Sugar or starch crops Wood waste Pulp sludge Grass straw

Ethanol

Biodiesel Production

Chemical

Rapeseed Soy beans Waste vegetable oil

Biodiesel

THERMO CHEMICAL CONVERSION PROCESS

E N D
U S E S E N E R G Y or
Methanol Production Methanol

Direct combustion Biomass feedstock

Conversion process

Heat Steam Electricity

Wood Agricultural waste Organic waste

Thermochemical

T E C H N O L O G I E S

Producer Gas

Gasification

(Low or medium Btu)

Pyrolysis

Synthetic fuel oil, Charcoal

P R O D U C T

BIOCHEMICAL CONVERSION PROCESS

B I O M A S S F E E D S T O C K

Conversion process
Animal

manure Agricultural waste Landfill Waste water Biochemical

Sugar

or starch

crop Wood waste Pulp sludge Grass straw

T E C H N O L O G I E S

Anaerobic

Methane gas

F U E L P R O D U C E D

Aerobic

Ethanol

CHEMICAL CONVERSION PROCESS

B I O M A S S F E E D S T O C K

Conversio n process T E C H N O L O G I E S

Mechanical Extraction

Palm Sunflower Coconut Ground

F U E L Biodiesel P R O D U C E D

nut Soy beans Pulp sludge Rapeseed Cotton seed

Chemical

Chemical Solvent

Possible Routes for treatment and conversion of biomass energy

Selection of Conversion Technology

The selection of biomass conversion technology is govern by following factors.

The feedstock available The end application The cost

Main Biomass Types:

FuelWood

Agricultural Residues
Energy Crops

Resource assessment
How much is available ? How reliable is the supply ? Sustainability at the intended rate ? Cost of collections (transportation etc.) Benefit by utilizing Waste (environment impact) Social and adaptability factor that influence the availability and suitability

Agricultural Residues
Crop residues (Rice Straw, Wheat straw Cotton stalk etc.). Agro processing residues (Rice husk, Maize cobs etc.) Animal Dung (also considered as agricultural residue)

The availability of Agricultural Residues

A healthy animal produce 4-5 times their weight (dry dung) each year. Most cereal crops gives between 1.5-2.5 tonnes of straws for every tonne of grain. Dung & crop residues are major resources which constituting the largest biomass production at the utilized level. Rough estimation of agricultural residues production can be derived using national livestock & Crop production statistics.

Factors to be considered while estimating Energy Potential of Agricultural Residues.

Climate variation Average annual residue yield Recoverable fraction Environmentally permissible fraction Competing other uses Losses

Grouping of Agricultural Residues

Woody crop residues (Coconut shell, Jute sticks etc) Cereal residues (Rice & wheat straw, Maize stalks etc.)

Green crop residues Soybean tops).

(Ground nut straw,

(Rice husk,

Crop processing residues ground nut shell etc). Animal dung.

Residues to Crop Ratios for some selected crops.

Crops Rice Wheat Maize Maize Grain sorghum Millet Barley Residues Straw Straw Stalk + cob Stalk Stalk Straw Residues production (tonnes per tonne of crop) 1.2 2.9 1.0 1.8 1.2 2.5 0.9 4.9 2.0 3.7 0.6 1.8

Rye Oats

Straw Straw

1.1 1.8 0.9 1.8

Residues to Crop Ratios for some selected crops. (Contd.)

Crops Groundnut Pigeon Peas Cotton Jute Coconut
Source:

Residues Shell Straw Stalk Stalk Sticks Shell Husk

Residues production (tonnes per tonne of crop) 5.0 2.3 2.9 5.0 3.5 5.0 2.0 0.7 1.1 1.65 4.5

Renewable Energy Technologies; Their Application in Developing Countries; (L.A. Krisotferson and V. Bokalders); Intermediate Technology publication-1991. The Power Guide: (Wim Hulcher and Peter Fraenkel); Intermediate Technology publication-1994

Dung production from animals

Animal

Buffalos Cows Camel

Horses & Donkey Pigs Ships & Goats
Source:

Animal dung production tonnes (air dry) per year 1.2 2.9 1.0 1.8 1.2 2.5 0.9 4.9 2.0 3.7 0.6 1.8

Renewable Energy Technologies; Their Application in Developing Countries; (L.A. Krisotferson and V. Bokalders); Intermediate Technology publication-1991. The Power Guide: (Wim Hulcher and Peter Fraenkel); Intermediate Technology publication-1994

Calorific value of some selected Agricultural residues Crops Ash content (%) 6 4.8 0.8 3.3 Gross calorific value MJ/kg (Oven dried) (%) 18.4 19.4 18.3 20.1 17.4

Alfalfa Straw Almond shells Cassava stem Coconut Shell Coconut stalk

Coconut husks
Groundnut Shells Maize stalk

6
4.4 6.4

18.1
19.7 18.2

Maize cobs

1.5

18.9

Calorific value of some selected Agricultural residues (Contd.)

Crops Ash content (%) Gross calorific value MJ/kg (Oven dried) (%) 21.4 18.6 15.0

Olive pits Pigeon peas stalk Rice straw

3.2 2 19.2

Rice husks
Soybean Stalk Sunflower stalk Wheat straw Dung (air)
Source:

14.9
8.5 -

16.8
19.4 21.0 17.2 14.0

Renewable Energy Technologies; Their Application in Developing Countries; (L.A. Krisotferson and V. Bokalders); Intermediate Technology publication-1991. The Power Guide: (Wim Hulcher and Peter Fraenkel); Intermediate Technology publication-1994

Gross calorific value of fresh dung

Buffalo Cows Pigs 11.8 MJ/kg 12.8 MJ / kg 14.9 MJ/kg

Biomass Preparation
The acceptability of fuel depend on
Its performance as a depends upon its characteristics fuel, which combustion

Its ability to harvested, transported and stored economically

Biomass Preparation (Contd.)

Characteristics of agricultural residues:
High moisture content (Reduce combustion efficiency, producing ignition difficulties)
Contamination of foreign particles (Stone, Dust etc.) Large in size (Difficult to facilitate automatic handling) Often have fluffy (Low bulk and low densities).

Biomass Preparation (Contd.)

Pretreatment to make it suitable to use.
Drying (removal / reducing of moisture) Size reduction (Shredder, chipper, grinder) Densification (Briquettes)

Combustion
Thermo-chemical process of converting biomass energy into heat energy by burning the biomass in present of air i.e. oxygen. Residential Purpose Industrial Purpose

A Typical Boiler - for Industrial Purposes

Pyrolysis
Thermo chemical process where organic material partially combusted to produce secondary fuels and chemical product The process of Pyrolysis gives three groups of products.
a solid (Known as char or charcoal) a liquid (known as pyroligeneous acid or oil which content a mixture of chemicals) a mixture of gases (CO, H2, N2)

SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF PYROLYSIS

Dried and Cut wood logs

Carbonizing Retort Vapours Condenser Tar and wood oil (condensable) Settling vats

Charcoal

Wood gas (Non condensable)

Crude settled tar

Pyroligenious acid

Boiled wood tar

Pitch

Heavy creosote oil

Light oil

Acetic acid

Wood spirit Methanol Wood nephtha Aldehydes and ketones

PRODUCTS OF PYROLYSIS OF WOOD

Pyrolysis Plant : Typical Example

Pyrolysis (Contd.)
The ratio of products varies with the chemical composition of the biomass and the operating conditions. A typical Example:

1- tonne of hardwood produced

350kg Charcoal; 450kg pyrogeneous acid (20-34MJ/kg) 75kg tar and 60m3 gas.(3.5-8.9MJ/m3)

Pyrolysis (Contd.)
Chemical from Pyroligenious potential applications acid and their

Product Acetic acid Formic acid Methanol Sodium acetate

Use Food preservation and flavouring Textile -dyes Denaturing agent for ethanol Medical application (dialysis)

Butyrolactol
Empyreumatic oils

Leather tanning
Disinfectant and antiseptic (Veterinary use)

Pyrolysis (Contd.)
Before cheap fossil fuel it was extensively used in chemical industries

Main Present applications are: to produce charcoal (with byproduct not being used)

other

or, to complete gasification (to produce tar etc.)

or, to provide energy.

Gasification
Thermochemical process that converts biomass into a combustible gas called Producer gas.
Producer gas contains Carbon monoxide, Hydrogen, Water vapor, Carbon dioxide, Tar vapor and ash particles

Gasification
Fuel for Gasifier:
A wide range of biomass materials can be used for Gasification A Typical Example: 1 kg of Dried biomass gives 3-3.6 kWh heat Energy; or, 0.7-0.9 kWh electricity plus 1.4 kWh heat.

BIOMASS

Drying Zone upto 1200C

Pyrolysis Zone 2000- 6000C

Producer Gas

Oxidation Zone 9000- 12000C

Air

Hearth Air

Reduction Zone
9000- 6000C

Ash Pit

Ash Pit

Grate

SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF DOWNDRAFT GASIFIER

Gasification (Contd.)
Operation system of Gasifier Complete gasification takes place in four stages
Drying of feedstock (~1200C)
Pyrolysis (200~6000C) Combustion (900~12000C) Reduction (900~6000C)

Gasification (Contd.)
Typical the volumetric composition of biomass based producer gas are as follow:

CO H2 CH4 CO2 N2

20 22% 15 18% 2 4% 9 11 50 54%

Tar and particulate materials

Gasification (Contd.)
Use of Gasifier gas Variety of thermal application including
Cooking Drying Water heating
The Heating value of gases rages from 4000 5000 kJ/kg

Steam generation Mechanical / Electrical power generation Fuel for Internal combustion engine

Gasification (Contd.)
Types of Gasifiers
1. Fixed bed Gassifier Up draft Down draft Cross draft
2. Fluidized bed Gassifier

Schematic View of Up draft Gasifier

Schematic View of Down draught Gasifier

Schematic View of Cross draught Gasifier

Schematic View of Fluidized bed Gassifier

Fermentation
Naturally occurring biochemical process concerned to micro-organism. Micro-organism are invisible bacteria of different types These Bacteria can be divided into two major groups.
Aerobic (which grows in the presence of oxygen) and; Anaerobic (Which grow in absence of gaseous oxygen).

Fermentation (Contd..)
Aerobic Fermentation
Aerobic Fermentation (Ethanol Production) Fermentation takes place in the presence of air.

Ethanol feedstocks Sugars, from sugar cane, sorghum, molasses, fruits and whey (residue from cheese production) Starch, from grains (rice, maize etc.) cassava, potato Cellulose, from wood agricultural residues.

SCHEMETIC DIAGRAM OF ETHANOL PRODUCTION

Natural Sugars: Sugar Cane Fruit

Crush

Residues

Process heat, by products.

Starches: Grain (barley) Root (cassava)

Easy

Hydrolysis

Sugar

Yeast fermentation to 10% ethanol

Cellulose: Wood

Difficult

Distillation to 90% ethanol

General combustion Fuel

Purtification to anhydrous alcohol

Petroleum additive or substitute

Fermentation (Contd..)
Ethanol production processes.
Feedstock collection
Pretreatment to yield sugar

Fermentation
Distillation

Waste treatment (Anaerobic fermentation to methane)

Ethanol yields from various selected crops

Crop Banana Crop yield tonnes /ha. 12-50 Ehanol yield litres/ tonne 93-104 Ethanol Yield litres/ ha. 1182-4925

Cane Molasses
Cassava Pineapple

2.4-4.0
8.7 30

258-291
172-194 43- 49

658-1098
1592 1380

Sorghum
Sugar cane

1.3
56

391- 440
67-76

540
4000

Anaerobic digestion
Biochemical process in which particular kinds of bacteria digest biomass in an oxygen-free environment. Several different types of bacteria work together to break down complex organic wastes in stages, finally resulting in the production of Biogas."

Anaerobic digestion (Contd..) Biogas Production

Biogas is mixture of methane (50 - 70%) and carbon dioxide with traces of hydrogen sulphide and water Combustible gas (calorific value = 16 - 20 MJ/m).

Biogas Production Process

Mixing of organic matter (such as animal dung) with some water Placed this mixture (Slurry) in a leak proof container (called a digester) and left to ferment. After several days at suitable temperatures, sufficient methane will have formed to make a combustible gas.

Biogas Feedstock
Any organic material can be used

Production rate depend on type of feed stock used.

Woody materials such as straw are very difficult to digest Animal dung digests readily

Pretreatment may be needed for some materials ( Chopping etc.)

Digester Designs
There are three well-known designs that have originated in developing country
1. The floating drum type (or Indian) digester 2. The fixed dome (or Chinese) digester 3. The flexible bag (or Taiwanese) digester

The floating drum type (or Indian) digester

The fixed dome (or Chinese) digester

The flexible bag (or Taiwanese) digester

Liquid Fuel from Biomass

Several possibilities for the production of liquid fuel from Biomass:
Ethanol [The easiest route is to use a sugarbearing feedstock (like sugarcane) for fermentation to ethanol]. Methanol [By thermochemical coversion Process (wood alcohol)(Gasification under conditions of high pressure and temperature)].

Liquid Fuel from Biomass (Contd.)

Biodiesel (Vegetable Oil) [Chemical conversion process of extracting oil from the seedy feedstock]. The two main processes are: Mechanical press extraction Solvent extraction

Organic Waste
Waste from Agroprocessing Industries. Waste from households, small companies, institutions and markets Industrial Waste Amount increases considerably with industrialisation and urbanisation

Utilization of Organic Waste

All these Waste can be groped as Solid or Liquid

Solid Waste
Landfill Gas is Produced from Solid Waste The same anaerobic digestion process that produces biogas in animal manure and wastewater treatment digesters occurs naturally underground in landfills

Utilization of Organic Waste (Contd.)

Liquid Waste
Many Industries produces large volume of liquid waste which contains solution of organic materials These waste water can be anaerogbically to used a useful energy. treated

Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) is the most widely used technology for liquid effluent.

Schematic diagram of an USAB reactor

Gas collection dome Biogas line Biogas collector

Treated effluent

Gas collection baffles

Separation zone Rising biogas Settled sludge Settled sludge

Sludge blanket Sludge bed Influent

THE END