Biomass Energy ?

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What is biomass?

All organic matter is

known as biomass, and
the energy released
from biomass when it
is eaten, burnt or
converted into fuels is
called biomass energy.
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 Why use biomass?

Fossil fuels are finite

Biomass is renewable
Global warming reduction

What is biomass?
Wood, …

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Why is biomass?

 Biomass provides a clean,

renewable energy source.
Biomass energy generates
far less air emissions than
fossil fuels.

 Unlike combustion of fossil

fuels,, carbon dioxide
released by biomass is
balanced by carbon dioxide
captured in the recent
growth of the biomass, so
there is far less net impact
on greenhouse gas levels.
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 Where does biomass come from

Biomass is obtained from any

plant, human or animal
derived organic matter.
 Wood from trees, agricultural
crops, wood factory waste,
and the construction industry
 Burnt wood from forest fires

 Animals and animal

droppings

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 Biomass Resources
 Energy Crops
 Woody crops
 Agricultural crops
 Waste Products
 Wood residues
 Temperate crop wastes
 Tropical crop wastes
 Animal wastes
 Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
 Commercial and industrial wastes
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http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/bio_resources.html
 Corn

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http://www.geo.msu.edu/geo333/corn.html
 Soybeans

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http://agproducts.unl.edu/
 Sorghum

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http://www.okfarmbureau.org/press_pass/galleries/grainSorghum/
 Sugar Cane Bagasse

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http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/photos.html
 Switchgrass

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http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/photos.html
 Hybrid Poplar

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http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/photos.html
 Corn Stover

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http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/photos.html
 Wood Chips & Sawdust

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http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/photos.html http://www.energytrust.org/RR/bio/
 Tracy Biomass Plant

Truck unloading wood chips that will fuel

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the Tracy Biomass Plant, Tracy, California. 16
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/biomass/biomass.html
 Municipal Solid Waste

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http://www.eeingeorgia.org/eic/images/landfill.jpg
How was biomass used in the past?

 Biomass was the first fuel

mankind learned to use for
energy. Burning wood for
warmth and cooking and
keeping wild animals away
 Some of the earliest power
plants in America were fueled
by wood material
 Many cultures used animal
dung to burn, and some are still
doing this today

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 Global Energy Sources

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 Renewable Energy Use

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 Bio energy Technologies

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Processes of extracting energy
from biomass
 Direct combustion
 Thermo-chemical gasification (heat to 800ºC under
pressure)
 Pyrolysis (heat to 300-500ºC in near absence of air)
 Anaerobic digestion
 Fermentation of non-woody biomass
 Hydrolysis & fermentation of woody biomass
 Transesterification of vegetable oils
 Gasification and catalytic production of Fischer-Tropsch
liquids
 Gasification to produce hydrogen
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 Conversion of Biomass Waste into
Useable Fuel
 Gasification: Exposing a solid fuel to high
temperatures and limited oxygen
produces biogas.
 Pyrolysis: Heating the biomass can
produce pyrolysis oil and phenol oil
leaving charcoal.
 Digestion: Bacteria, in an oxygen-starved
environment can produce methane.
 Fermentation: Bio-material that is used to
manufacture Ethanol and Bio-diesel by an
anaerobic biological process in which
sugars are converted to alcohol by the
action of micro-organisms, usually yeast.
 Solid Fuel Combustion: Direct
combustion of solid matter.

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 Direct combustion
 Cooking with firewood in developing countries,
typical cook-stove efficiency is 10-20%, 30%
with improved stoves (vs. 45-60% with gaseous
fuels)
 Pellet heating, central Europe in particular
 District heating in Sweden, Atlantic Canada
 Issues include ash content (which is related to
the non-combustible silica in the biomass,
which can be high) and K and Ca in the fuel,
which can cause agglomeration in boilers

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Solid Fuel Combustion
Direct combustion of solid matter
where the biomass is fed into a furnace Wood
where it is burned. The heat is used to
boil water and the energy in the steam
is used to turn turbines and generators.

Animal Dung

Peat is an accumulation of partially

decayed vegetable matter. Peat forms in
wetlands, bogs, moors,mires and fens
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 Gasification
 Biomass heated with no oxygen
 Gasifies to mixture of CO and H2
 Called “Syngas” for synthetic gas
 Mixes easily with oxygen
 Burned in turbines to generate electricity
 Like natural gas
 Can easily be converted to other fuels,
chemicals, and valuable materials
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 Gasification
What is gasification? Clean
Producer Gas

Partial oxidation
Fluidized
Bed
Bed additives Gasifier
(Catalyst)
Biomass

Air/O2/Steam

Project approach to biomass gasification

Applications of biomass gasification?

Energy, Fuels, Chemicals
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 Biomass Gasifier
 200 tons of wood
chips daily
 Forest thinnings;
wood pallets
 Converted to gas at
~1850 ºF
 Combined cycle gas
turbine
McNeil Generating Station
 8MW power output biomass gasifier – 8MW

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http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/photos.html
 Pyrolysis
Heat is used to chemically convert
biomass to bio-oil.

 Pyrolysis Oil, is easier to store and

transport than solid biomass
material and can be burned like
petroleum to generate electricity.
 Phenol Oil, a chemical used to
make wood adhesives, molded
plastics and foam insulation. Wood
adhesives are used to glue together
plywood and other composite wood
products.

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 Pyrolysis
 Heat bio-material under pressure
 500-1300 ºC (900-2400 ºF)
 50-150 atmospheres
 Carefully controlled air supply
 Up to 75% of biomass converted to liquid
 Tested for use in engines, turbines, boilers

 Currently experimental

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http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/pyrolysis.html
 Pyrolysis Schmatic

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http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/pyrolysis.html
 What is a Biogas Plant
 Basically Methane & CO2 Gas Producer.
 Methane – Odorless, Colorless, Good Calorific
Value, Green House Gas
 Sources : Animal Manures, excreta, kitchen
waste, Industrial Chemical Processes, Sea
Water Bed, etc.
 Animal Manure & Excreta contributes around 16
% of the total global methane emission.

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 Schematic of a typical Biogas
Plant

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 BioFuels
 Ethanol
 Created by fermentation of starches/sugars
 Active research on cellulosic fermentation
 Biodiesel
 Organic oils combined with alcohols
 Creates ethyl or methyl esters
 SynGas Biofuels
 Syngas (H2 & CO) converted to methanol, or
liquid fuel similar to diesel

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http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/bio_fuels.html
 Economic Issues
 Sustainable Development
 Move toward sustainable energy production
 Energy Security
 Reduce dependence on imported oil
 Rural Economic Growth
 Provide new crops/markets for rural business
 Land Use
 Better balance of land use
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http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/bio_integrated.html
 Environmental Issues
 Air Quality
 Reduce NOx and SO2 emissions
 Global Climate Change
 Low/no net increase in CO2
 Soil Conservation
 Soil erosion control, nutrient retention, carbon
sequestration, and stabilization of riverbanks.
 Water Conservation
 Better retention of water in watersheds
 Biodiversity and Habitat
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http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/bio_integrated.html
 Applications
Power Generation Thermal Applications

o Irrigation Pumping o Hot Air Generators

o Village Electrification o Dryers

o Captive Power (Industries) o Boilers
o Grid-fed Power from Energy o Thermic Fluid Heaters
Plantations on Wastelands o Ovens
o Simultaneous Charcoal and o Furnaces & Kilns
Power Production

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 Advantages of biomass:
 Can be stored
 Provides rural income & employment
 Potentially cleaner than coal for most pollutants
 Can be irrigated and fertilized with sewage water
 Can be cultivated in such a way as to improve
the landscape and remediate soils
 Can make use of animal wastes and agricultural
residues while providing an effective fertilizer
byproduct

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Disadvantages of biomass energy

 Land intensive (efficiency of photosynthesis is

~ 1%, with further losses when biomass is
converted to secondary forms of energy)
 Can compete with land for food
 Complex to initiate and manage
 Must be tailored to the biophysical and socio-
economic circumstances of each region

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 Biodiesel Bus

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http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/photos.html
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