Biomass Storage and Pretreatment of Biomass Feedstock

Biomass Storage

Biomass storage is required to ensure the continuous operation of the facility. To limit the space required for storage at the plant site, biomass must be stored in relatively high piles. Two main problems associated with fuel storage are decomposition and selfheating. Self-heating increases the rate of decomposition and fire risk, and it encourages the growth of thermophilic fungi whose spores can cause a respiratory condition in humans similar to farmers lung. Some small virgin biomass losses may occur at the storage stage, but they are likely to be negligible. For intermediary storage of the fuel between the pretreatment (e.g., drying and sizing) and gasification stage, storage silos may be used. (more…)

Biomass Gasification: Electricty Conversion from Feedstock

Biomass Gasification
Gasification is a thermo chemical process that has been exploited for more than a century for converting solid feedstocks to gaseous energy carriers. The first gasifier patent was issued in England at the end of the 18th century and producer gas from coal gasification was mainly used as lighting fuel throughout the 19th century. At the turn of the 20th century, the main use of producer gas, obtained essentially from coal, switched to electricity generation and automotive applications via internal combustion engines. The use of producer gas was gradually supplanted by the use of higher energy density liquid fuels and as a result confined to areas with expensive or unreliable supplies of petroleum fuels. (more…)

Main Energy Sources: Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy

main energy sources
The energy that people use every day comes from many different sources. The resources are divided into two main groups: renewable energy and nonrenewable energy. Renewable energy sources are those that can be used again and again. Renewable energy resources have unlimited supply. (more…)

Biomass Gasification Process Effect of Feedstock Properties and Operating Parameters

Biomass Gasification Feedstock
Thermo chemical processing of biomass yields gaseous, liquid, and solid products and offers a means of producing useful gaseous and/or liquid fuels. Biomass gasification is a total degradation process consisting of a sequence of thermal and thermo chemical processes that converts practically all the carbon in the biomass to gaseous form, leaving an inert residue. The gas produced consists of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrogen (N2) (if air is used as the oxidizing agent) and contains impurities, such as small char particles, ash, tars, and oils. The solid residue will consist of ash (composed principally of the oxides of Ca, K, Na, Mg, and Si) and possibly carbon or char. (more…)

Modernizing Bioenergy – Biomass as Energy Source

modernizing bioenergy biomass
Estimation of the future technical potential of biomass as an energy source is dependent on assumptions with respect to land availability and productivity as well as conversion technologies. With the emergence of energy crops as the major source of biomass fuel, land use conflicts, especially in relation to food production, may arise. However, with efficient agricultural practices, plantations and crops could supply a large proportion of energy needs, with residues playing a smaller role without compromising food production or further intensifying agricultural practices. (more…)

Energy from Waste Biomass

energy waste biomass
Another large source of renewable carbon supplies is waste biomass. It consists of a wide range of materials and includes municipal solid wastes (MSW), municipal biosolids (sewage), industrial wastes, animal manures, agricultural crop and forestry residues, landscaping and tree clippings and trash, and dead biomass that results from nature’s life cycles. Several of these wastes can cause serious health or environmental problems if they are not disposed of properly. Some wastes such as MSW can be considered to be a source of recyclables such as metals and glass in addition to energy. Thus, waste biomass is a potential energy resource in the same manner as virgin biomass. (more…)

Energy Potential of Waste Biomass

energy potential waste biomass
Another large source of renewable carbon supplies is waste biomass. It consists of a wide range of materials and includes municipal solid wastes (MSW), municipal biosolids (sewage), industrial wastes, animal manures, agricultural crop and forestry residues, landscaping and tree clippings and trash, and dead biomass that results from nature’s life cycles. Several of these wastes can cause serious health or environmental problems if they are not disposed of properly. Some wastes such as MSW can be considered to be a source of recyclables such as metals and glass in addition to energy. (more…)

Hydrogen Production Methods : Steam Reforming, Natural Gas, Electrolysis Water, Algae

hydrogen production methods Electrolysis Water
The hydrogen can come from various sources including fossil fuels, wind, solar, biomass, nuclear, solar thermo-chemical reactions, and solar photolysis. (more…)

The Future of Biofuels Usage and Energy Crops

biofuels usage
One of the main benefits from future use of biofuels would be the reduction of greenhouse gases compared to the use of fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, is released into the air from combustion. Twenty-four percent of worldwide energy-related carbon emissions in 1997 were from the United States. Carbon and due to rising energy consumption, are expected to increase 1.3 percent per year through 2015. (more…)

Sugar to Ethanol Production

sugar-to-ethanol-production
Brazil produced about 18.5 million metric tones (20.4 tons) of processed sugar in the 2001/2002 harvest, with approximately 9.45 million metric tones (10.4 tons) used domestically and the rest exported. Brazilian sugar is mostly derived from sugarcane, a drought-tolerant tropical and subtropical crop containing about 12 to 17% sugars (90% sucrose, 10% glucose) and 68 to 72% moisture. Brazil grew about 272 million metric tones (300 million tons) of sugarcane in the 2001/2002 season, making it second to India in world cane production that year. In 1975, Brazil adopted a Pro-Alcool Program to convert sugar to ethanol to reduce dependence on petroleum imports that were damaging the economy. (more…)