Energy From Biomass

DATE : 28/3/2018
 Biomass
2

⚫ Plant matter created by photosynthesis deriving energy

requirements from solar radiation.
⚫ H2O + CO2 🡪(energy)🡪 CH2O + O2 (organic materials)
⚫ The term biomass includes all plant life Examples, trees,
agricultural plants, bush, grass, algae and their residues
⚫ Crop residues such as straw, stalks, leaves, roots etc.
⚫ Agro-processing residues such as oilseed shells,
groundnut shells, husk, bagasse, molasses, coconut
shells, saw dust, wood chip etc.
⚫ Also includes, human wastes, sewage sludge, industrial
and household wastes.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Biomass …. In the past century
3

⚫ In the past, biomass was the primary source of fuel

for the world
⚫ As the Industrial revolution progresses in Europe,
forests were severely depleted and coal was gradually
introduced as a replacement fuel
⚫ In the 19th century, although, by 1885, its use was
being outpaced by that of coal and by 1915, also by oil
and gas
⚫ Today in many developing countries biomass
remains an important energy source for heating and
cooking

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Forms of Biomass
4

⚫ Fuel wood
⚪ Oldest source of biomass energy. Direct combustion is the simplest
way to obtain heat energy, energy density is 16-20 MJ/kg
⚫ Charcoal
⚪ Clean, smokeless, with energy density about 30 MJ/kg
⚪ Obtained by carbonization of woody biomass
⚪ Carbonization is a process in which a fuel is heated without air to
leave solid porous carbon. Coke is produced commercially
by carbonization of coal, either at high or low temperatures.
⚫ Fuel Pellets and Briquettes
⚪ Crop residues such as straw, rice husk, and waste wood are pressed
to form lumps, known as fuel pellets or briquettes and used as a
solid fuel.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Forms of Biomass …….cont.
5

⚫ Biogas
⚪ It is the gaseous fuel obtained from biomass(organic waste from plants,
animals and humans) by means of anaerobic digestion or fermentation.
⚪ Applied to any wet organic matter
⚪ Anaerobes are bacteria found to live and grow in organic matter at the
temperature of less than 60oC in presence of moisture but in the absence
of air or oxygen
⚪ The anaerobic bacteria consumes oxygen which it obtains from
decomposition of organic matters,
⚪ Decomposition of the organic matter by anaerobic bacteria is called
digestion or fermentation
⚪ Biogas is liberated from the organic matter during digestion or
fermentation
⚪ Biogas produced by digestion contain methane gas(65-75%), carbon
dioxide (25-35%) and small trace of nitrogen, ammonia, hydrogen
sulphide other gases.
3
⚪ It has energy density of 23 MJ/m .

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Forms of Biomass …….cont.
6

⚫ Producer gas
⚪ It is obtained by gasification of fuel
⚪ Woody matter(crop residue, wood chips, rice husk, coconut
shell) is converted into producer gas
⚪ It is partial combustion and reduction operation of biomass
⚪ The producer gas has 19% carbon monoxide, 18% hydrogen,
1% methane, 11% carbon dioxide, and the rest remaining is
nitrogen
3
⚪ Energy density is 4-8 MJ/m (5-10MJ/kg)

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Forms of Biomass …….cont.
7

⚫ Bio-ethanol (C2H5OH)
⚪ It is a colourless liquid biofuel
⚪ It can be derived from wet biomass containing sugars, starches
or cellulose
⚪ The main constituent of woody matter are legnin (fibrous part)
and cellulose (juicy part)
o
⚪ Its boiling point is 78 C and energy density is 26.9 MJ/kg

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Forms of Biomass …….cont.
8

⚫ Biodiesel
⚪ It is produced by blending of vegetable oils, with normal diesel
to obtain cheaper version of diesel engine fuel.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Biomass conversion routes
9

Combustion (direct conversion of biomass into

heat/power)
Thermochemi
Gasification (biomass converted into producer
cal
gas with air)
Pyrolysis (thermal decomposition of biomass in
absence of air)

Anaerobic digestion (production of

Biochemi biogas)
cal Fermentation (obtaining
alcohol fuels)
Oil extraction (direct use as edible/non-edible oils from grains
and seeds and
Can be used as a substitute of conventional diesel oil)

Advantages of biomass - no net release of CO2 in growing

biomass
Energy From Biomass - Very low sulphur emission compared to fossil fuels 21-03-2022
 Combustion
10

⚫ Direct heat energy conversion by burning wood, agricultural wastes and

dung-cakes
⚫ In India, millions of house holds use stoves (chulhas) with very poor
efficiency conversion of 10 %
⚫ The remainder is lost due to wind, incomplete combustion, radiation losses,
and other losses due to mismatch of fire and pot size.
⚫ Considerable energy is also wasted in evaporation from the uncovered pot
and from the use of wet fuel.
⚫ Smoke, which is in fact unburnt tar and carbon, is a health hazard.
⚫ There is little control over the rate at which wood is burnt.
⚫ Improves chulha design with high energy conversion efficiency of 15-20%,
35 million chulhas installed under National Programme on improved
chulhas in the country
⚫ In theUSA and Europe, 500 biomass based electric power plants in the
range 5 to 50 MW.
⚫ Considering 1 % photosynthesis efficiency, for generating 1000 MW
electrical power, the plantation area requirements about 1000 km2.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Chulhas
11

Traditional Chulhas Improved Chulhas

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Biomass gasification
12

⚫ Process in which pieces of wood/agricultural

residue is converted into combustible gas
mixture.
⚫ Partial combustion occurs because of less air
supply provided than that for required full
combustion. As a result, a gaseous mixture of
CO, CO2, H2 and N2 known as producer gas is
obtained.
⚫ Process is carried out in a vessel known as a
gasifier, more precisely, downdraft gaisifier.
Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022
 Downdraft gasifier
13

• A Cylindrical vessel
with varying cross
section.
• Biomass is fed from the
top and passes through
various stages of
processes and
converted into the
producer gas and ash.
They slowly move down
through various zones of
a gasifier.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Processes in the downdraft gasifier
14
⚫ 1. Drying zone (120oC): moisture contents of the
biomass is evaporated here. Heat is acquired in this zone
by the high temperature lower zones.
⚫ 2. Pyrolysis zone (200o-600oC): biomass loses its
volatile matter. At 400oC, self sustained exothermic
reaction breaks down the biomass structures. Water
vapour, methanol, acetic acid, hydro carbons and solid
carbon (char) are produced and move down in the next
zone.
⚫ 3. Oxidation zone (900o-1200oC): A predetermined
quantity of air is passed through nozzles. Pyrolyzed
gases and char from second zone are burnt here. This
reaction is exothermic and oxidizing. The products are
water vapour and CO2.
Volatile matters are the methane, hydrocarbons, hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and incombustible
gases like carbon dioxide and nitrogen found in coal

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Processes in the downdraft gasifier
15

⚫ 4. Reduction zone (900o-600oC): the reactions are,

CO2 + C 🡪 2CO
C+2H2O🡪CO2+ 2H2
C + H2O🡪 CO + H2
These reactions are endothermic and the temperature of
the zone reduces gradually. At the end, whole char is
consumed and the final products are producer gas and
ash. Gas also contains particles and tar.
⚫ Contents of the producer gas,
CO (20-22%), H2 (15-18%), CH4 (2-4%), CO2 (9-11%) and
N2 (50-54%)
⚫ Calorific values – 4000 – 5000 kJ/m3 and poor
compared to the gaseous fuels or natural gas.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Use of the producer gas
16

⚫ Gasifier efficiency is defined as the ratio of the heat content in the

producer gas to the heat content in the biomass input.
⚫ Applications such as cooking, drying, water heating, steam
generation, fuel of an IC engine to get mechanical work done or to
produce electrical power.
⚫ As the producer from the gasifier contains the particles and tar, it has
to be cleaned first using a cyclone, a scrubber and a filter before
inletting into the IC engine.
⚫ The spark ignition engine can run solely on the producer gas. The gas
along with air is sucked from the gasifier and cleaner and then
compressed, ignited and exhausted in the petrol engine.
⚫ The compression ignition engine can run on ‘dual- fuel’ mode using
producer gas along with diesel simultaneously. The mixture is
compressed and small amount of diesel is sprayed in. Combustion
initiates with diesel and spread over gaseous and air mixture.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Specifications of a biomass
gasification system
17

⚫ Output production 5.2 x 106 kJ/h (1450 kW)

thermal mode and 500 kWe electrical mode
⚫ Gasifier uses wood blocks (25-100 mm long and
70 mm dia.) at an input rate of 500 kg/h and
produces 1250 m3/h of gas.
⚫ The internal combustion engine is a
compression ignition engine with dual-fuel
mode operation.
⚫ It uses only 25% of diesel normally
required by the engine if operating with
diesel alone.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Problem on biomass gasifier
18

⚫ A biomass gasifier is used to run a compression-ignition engine. The engine

operates in the dual-fuel mode with 80% diesel replacement. The gasifier-engine
system produces 350 kW of power. Calculate the biomass feeding rate to the
gasifier if the efficiency of the engine is 35% and the calorific value of the
biomass is 16800 kJ/kg. Given that the efficiency of the gasifier is 0.75.

Bioma Gas Engine

Gasifier Power
ss cleaning Produce (35%)
(75%) r 350
unit
gas kW
Dies
Engine Input = 350/0.35 = el
1000 kW
Power supplied by gasifier (with 80% diesel replacement )=
1000 x 0.8 = 800 kW
Input to the gasifier = 800/0.75 =
1066.7 kWfeeding rate = 1066.7 (kW)/16800 (kJ/kg) =
Biomass
0.0635 kg/s = 228.6 kg/h
Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022
 Pyrolysis
19

⚫ In its simplest form it involves heating the biomass to drive off the
volatile matter, leaving behind the black residue we know as
charcoal.
⚫ This has double the energy density of the original material
⚫ This means that charcoal, which is half the weight of the original
biomass, contains the same amount of energy making the fuel more
transportable.
⚫ The charcoal also burns at a much higher temperature than the
original biomass, making it more useful for manufacturing
processes.
⚫ More sophisticated Paralysis techniques have been developed
recently to collect the volatiles that are otherwise lost to the system.
⚫ The collected volatiles produce a gas rich in hydrogen (a potential
fuel) and carbon monoxide.
⚫ These compounds, if desired, can be synthesized into methane,
methanol and other hydrocarbons

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 COMPOSTING
20

⚫ Any organic material that can be biologically decomposed is

compostable
⚪ (e.g., grass clippings left in the lawn or food scraps rotting in dustbins, etc)
⚫ overall composting process
⚪ Organic matter + O2 + aerobic bacteria🡪 CO2 + NH3 + H2O + other end
products + energy
⚫ Compost is peaty humus, dark in colour and has a crumbly texture,
an earthy odour, and resembles rich topsoil. Composts will not have
any resemblance in the physical form to the original waste from
which it was derived.
⚫ A major portion of municipal solid wastes in India contain up to
70% by weight of organic materials. In addition, certain industrial
by-products – those from food processing, agricultural and paper
industries – are mostly composed of organic materials.
⚫ When mixed with soil, compost promotes a proper balance between
air and water in the resulting mixture, helps reduce soil erosion and
serves as a fertiliser.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 COMPOSTING ........(cont...)
21

⚫ Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and

actinomycetes as well as larger organisms such as
insects and earthworms play an active role in
decomposing the organic materials. As
microorganisms begin to decompose the organic
material, they break down organic matter and
produce carbon dioxide, water, heat and humus (the
relatively stable organic end product). This humus
end product is compost.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Digestion
22

⚫ Biomass digestion works by the action of anaerobic

bacteria.
⚫ These microorganisms usually live at the bottom of
swamps or in other places where there is no air,
consuming dead organic matter to produce, among
other things, methane and hydrogen.
⚫ We can put these bacteria to work for us.
⚫ By feeding organic matter such as animal dung or
human sewage into tanks – called digesters – and
adding bacteria, we can collect the emitted gas to use
as an energy source

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Digestion
23

⚫ This can be a very efficient means of extracting

usable energy from such biomass – up to two-thirds
of the fuel energy of the animal dung is recovered
⚫ A large proportion of household biomass waste, such
as kitchen scraps, lawn clippings and pruning, ends
up at the local tip.
⚫ Over a period of several decades, anaerobic bacteria
are at work at the bottom of such tips, steadily
decomposing the organic matter and emitting
methane.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Anaerobic Digestion
24

⚫ Anaerobic Digestion is a biochemical degradation process

that converts complex organic material, such as animal
manure, into methane and other byproducts
⚫ What is Anaerobic Digester?
⚪ Anaerobic digester (commonly referred to as an AD) is a device that
promotes the decomposition of manure or “digestion” of the
organics in manure to simple organics and gaseous biogas products.
⚫ Biogas is formed by the activity of anaerobic bacteria.
⚫ Microbial growth and biogas production are very slow at
ambient temperatures.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Biogas
25

⚫ India – 175 million cattle with 770 Mt of dung everyday

can produce 30-40 billion m3 of biogas with heat value 15
to 20 Mt of oil.
⚫ N2 contents in the sludge over 2 Mt with an energy saving
potential of 2-4 Mt of oil. So biogas production in India is
of greater significance.
⚫ It is fermentation of wet live stock wastes to produce
biogas.
⚫ Biogas-mixture of CH4 (45 to 70%) and CO2.
⚫ Calorific value 16000 to 25000 kJ/m3.
⚫ When blended with diesel, it acts as good alternate for
compression ignition engine saving 70-80% diesel.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Biogas plant
26

• Digester (1.2-6 m dia. & depth 3-6 m) below

ground level
• Two pipe lines leading to the digester bottom-
one for feeding animal waste slurry and other
for output of the sludge
• Floating dome which on the slurry and serving
as
•aWaste is fed once a day and the sludge
gas holder
comes out
with the build pressure of the gas in the
dome.
• Sludge retains N,K and P originally
Gas generation-
•present in the in first stage, acid former bacteria convert the organic matters of
the wastes
animal wasteinto small
and usedchain
as a simple acids.
fertilizer.
• In the second stage, other kind of bacteria convert simple acids into CH4 and CO2.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Two types of Biogas
27

⚫ There are two major types of biogas designs

promoted in India
⚪ Floating Drum
⚪ Fixed Dome

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Floating and fixed drum
28

⚫ The floating drum is an old design with a mild-steel, Ferro-cement

or fiberglass drum.
⚫ which floats along a central guide frame and acts as a storage
reservoir for the biogas produced.
⚫ The fixed dome design is of Chinese origin and has dome structure
made of cement and bricks.
⚫ It is a low-cost alternative to the floating drum, but requires high
masonry skills and is prone to cracks and gas leakages.
⚫ Family biogas plants come in different size depending on the
availability of dung and the quantity of biogas required for cooking.
⚫ The average size of the family is 5-6 persons, and thus biogas plant
of capacity 2-4 m3is adequate. The biomass requirement is
estimated to be 1200 liters for a family.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Floating Drum and Fixed Dome
29
Feature Floating Drum Fixed Dome

Cost More(due to steel drum) Less

Masonry Average skill (Installation is simple) Specialized, skilled masonry work

work-manship required

Corrosion Yes (likely in the steel drum) No

Maintenance More (Drum painting, flexible gas pile Less (No steel part is used and gas
replacement) pipe is fixed GI pipe)
Thermal insulation Bad (heat loss due to steel drum) Good (temperature will be constant
due to complete under-ground
construction)
Scum troubles Less likely More likely

Gas production per High (Due to bifurcation, both acid and Low
unit volume methan formers find better environment for
growth)
Gas pressure Constant (therefore no gat leakage) Variable (leakage due to high pressure
developed)
Safety Safe Danger of explosion due to high
pressure
Reliability High Low (high construction failure)
Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022
 Floating drum
30

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Fixed dome
31

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Biogas plant design
32

⚫ 1 kg of dry cattle dung produces approx. 1 m3 of

biogas.
⚫ 1 kg of fresh cattle dung contains 8% dry
biodegradable mass.
⚫ 1 kg of fresh cattle dung has a volume of 0.9 liters.
⚫ 1 kg of fresh cattle dung requires equal amount of
water for preparing slurry.
⚫ Typical retention time of slurry in a biogas plant is
40 days.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Biogas plant design problem
33
⚫ An engine-generator driven by biogas produces 2
kWe. Estimate the volume of the digester if the feed
dung has 20000 kJ/m3 calorific value, generator eff.
90.1% and engine eff. 30%.
Generat
Biogas Engine Electric
or
plant (30%) al
(90.1%)
power

Power input to engine = 2/0.901/0.3 = 7.4 kW

Amount of biogas required = 7.4/20000 = 0.00037 m3/s
For continuous operation, biogas required = 0.00037 x 3600 x 24 =
31.96 m3/day
Fresh dung required = 31.96/0.08 = 399.6 kg/day
Volume of fresh dung required = 399.6 x 0.9 = 359.6 liters/day
Volume of slurry (equal amount of water added) = 359.6 x 2 = 719.2
liters/day
Slurry stored for 40 days, so volume of digester = 719.2 x 40 = 28768
Energy From Biomass3 21-03-2022
liters = 29 m
 Dinbandhu biogas plant
34
⚫ Biogas plant available in 20 sizes ranging from
2-150 m3/day
⚫ In India, 3.9 million biogas plant and most of
them are of KVIC type. 2 kWe plant costs
approx. 14000 Rs.
• Hemispherical fixed dome gas
holder and
Made from reinforced concrete
attached to
the digester having curved bottom.

• Cost of 2 m3/day is 8000 Rs.

Khadi and Village Industries Commission

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Operation parameters of biogas plant
35

⚫ Temperature : Methane forming bacteria work best

at 20-25oC. Digestion at higher temperature
proceeds more rapidly than at lower temperature.
Gas yield rates double at every 5oC increase in
temperature. The gas production decreases sharply
below 20oC and stops completely at 10oC.
⚫ Pressure : Minimum pressure required is 12 bar.
Excess pressure inhibits release of gas from slurry. It
also leads to leakage in masonry through micro
pores. Gas taps and pipe joints start leaking

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Operation parameters of biogas plant
36

⚫ Solid to moisture ratio : Water is essential for survival

and activity of microorganisms, hydrolysis process. This
helps in better mixing, movement of bacteria and faster
digestion rate. If water content is too high, the mean
slurry temperature and hence gas production drops. If
water is too low acids accumulate and hinder
fermentation process
⚫ pH value : it is to be maintained at 6.5 to 7.5, as methane
forming bacteria are very sensitive to acidity.
⚫ Feeding rate : If the digester is fed with too much raw
material at a time, acids will accumulate and digestion
process may stop. At higher feeding rate the retention
period will be less and undigested slurry may come out.
Therefore uniform feeding rate should be maintained.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Operation parameters of biogas plant
37

⚫ Carbon to nitrogen ratio : Carbon (in carbohydrate) and nitrogen (in

proteins) are the main nutrients for anaerobic bacteria. Bacteria use
carbon 25 to 30 times faster than nitrogen. C:N ration as 30:1 is
maintained.
⚫ Seeding of biomass with bacteria : To start and accelerate
fermentation process, small amount of digested slurry, containing
methane-forming bacteria is added to the freshly charged plant. This
is known as seeding.
⚫ Mixing or stirring : It helps to maintain uniformity in substrate
concentration, temperature, prevent deposition of solids at the
bottom
⚫ Retention time : Retention time is the time duration for which the
slurry remains in the plant or the time that is available for
biodigestion. It is determined by the volume of the digester divided
by the volume of slurry added per day. For cowdung retention
period is 50 days.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Bio-ethanol
38
⚫ Very important in transport sector
⚫ Variety of carbohydrates such as sugar, starches, hemicelluloses
and celluloses can be used as a feedstock.
⚫ Crops high in sugar, such as sugar cane, sugar beet and sweet
sorghum which are easily fermented.
⚫ Alcohols can be produced from starch crops, wheat, corn, potato.

Sugar
Milling
crops
and
Starch hydrolysis Fermentatio
Sugar n Ethan
crops
Hydrolysi ol
Cellulosic s • Ethanol-a good alternative
biomass fuel for automotive engines
• Brazil – adopted large scale
production
Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022
 Bio-diesel
39
⚫ It is a methyl or ethyl ester of a fatty acid from used vegetable
oils/animal fat.
⚫ It can be used in engine in blended or pure form.
⚫ Reduction in emission of unburnt hydrocarbons, CO and
particulate matters.
⚫ examples- edible oils such as palm, soyabean, sunflower, peanut,
olive oil and non-edible oils such as jatropha, karanja, neem
converted into esters – process called transesterificatoion
⚫ Triglycerides in the oil are reacted with methanol/ethanol to
produce esters and glycerol.
Pressing or
extraction
Oil
plants Oil
Esterificasti Bio-dies
on el
Animal
fat
Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022
 Properties of bio-diesel fuels
40

Properties of bio-diesel is well comparable with diesel, while

properties of the blend are very close to the properties of the diesel.
Engines running with bio-diesel emit less particulate matters, hydro
carbons and Co.
Marginal increase in NOx emission, but can be reduced by De-NOx
catalyst.
Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022
 Bio-diesel in India
41

⚫ Jatropha is widely used in India.

⚫ Grows in variety of agro-climatic conditions.
⚫ Jatrpha has been planted on 1700 acres of land in 13
states.
⚫ Provides energy security to remote and rural areas.
⚫ Karnataka and UP commissioned plant to supply
electricity to villages for 3-4 hours a day.
⚫ Indian railway and state transport use bio-diesel
blends in their regular vehicles.
⚫ To promote Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
has set up National Biofuel Centers all over the
country.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Energy recovery from urban waste
42

⚫ Rapid urbanization and industrialization have

resulted in the creation of enormous quantities of
wastes in urban and industrial areas
⚫ Study of waste to energy can be divided into:
⚪ Municipal solid waste (MSW)
⚪ Municipal liquid waste
⚪ Urban industrial waste

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Municipal solid waste
43

⚫ Each year million tonnes of municipal solid waste is

collected in the country and is disposed of in landfill
dumps
⚫ It contain dry waste of household (waste paper etc.)
mixed with kitchen scrap
⚫ It is subjected to a segregation system where
inorganics (metal, glass, grit) and plastic material are
sorted out, keeping items which are largely cellulosic
with fats and proteins i.e. are digestible

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Municipal solid waste
44

MSW
Segregation Biomethanation
Biomass storage
system unit

Organic fertilizer Power

production unit generation

Block diagram shows major components of an MSW-based

power project

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 MSW power project
45

⚫ The project is designed to process 500-600 tonnes of

MSW per day from a city. The collected MSW is
converted into about 115 M.T. of dry volatile solids
which produce 50,000 m3 of biogas per day.
⚫ The spent slurry in the digester (75 MT) is used as
organic fertilizer
⚫ The biogas so produced is fed into five 100 % biogas
engines to generate 5 MW grid-quality power

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Power generation from landfill gas
46

⚫ A large pit at the outskirt of the city is prepared and a

pipe system for gas collection is laid down before the
waste is filled
⚫ After 2-3 months, landfill gas can be extracted
⚫ The gas flow through pipes under natural pressure
⚫ The gas has calorific value of about 4500 kcal/m3
⚫ Used for direct heating of cooking or to generate
power thgough IC enginens.
⚫ Largest landfill gas plants in the world is a 46 MW
plant in California

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Landfill gas for power generation
47

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Power generation from liquid waste
48

⚫ Sewage : Sewage is a source of biomass energy

similar to other animal wastes
⚫ Energy can be extracted from sewage, using
anaerobic digestion to produce biogas
⚫ Anjana Sewage Treatment Plant at Surat has three
sludge digesters with a total capacity of 82.50
millions liters per day and generates about 2500 m3
of biogas daily from each digester.
⚫ Gas is used into a 100 % biogas engine for electricity
generation of about 0.5 MW gives saving of Rs. 10
lakhs per month

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Power generation from sewage waste
49

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Sewage treatment plant
50

⚫ Distillary liquid wastes carry rich raw material for

producing biogas
⚫ Liquid effluent from a distillary is collected in a tank
where the suspended solids settle down
⚫ Decanted effluent which contains fermented molasses is
pumped into a digester through a heat exchanger
⚫ Effluent is cooled to maintain the digester temeperature
at 36-38 0C, allowed to be digested anaerobically for
about 12-15 days, during which biogas is produced
⚫ Biogas accumulates in a gas holder and is stored under
pressure using a pressure control device
⚫ Generation of power is based on two IC engines, each
coupled with 1 MW capacity generator, fuelled by biogas

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Sewage treatment plant
51

⚫ The treated effluent overflows into a degassing pond

to remove traces of gas
⚫ The liquid then flows into a clarifier where the sludge
collects to be used as farm manure
⚫ The clarified water is utilised for irrigation after
secondary treatment

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Biogas from specific industries
52

⚫ The paper and pulp industry consumes a large number of

energy and water in its various unit operations. The
waste discharged water contains compounds from wood
and raw material, useful for recovery of energy
⚫ Sugar industry in India uses biogasse-based cogeneration
for achieving self sufficiency in steam and electricity.
Cogeneration cleans up the environment, generates
power for in-house consumption and earns additional
revenue from the sale of surplus electricity. The existing
430 sugar mills have an estimated cogeneration power
potential of 5000 MW. Around 491 MW of such power
plant has already been commissioned up and more under
construction

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Biomass from rice mill
53

⚫ Rice production by the method of parboiling at high

temperature produces large amount of rice husk
⚫ Husk produced is effectively utilized for steam
production, which is used for both process and
power generation
⚫ The calorific value of rice husk varies from 2637 to
3355 kcal/kg depending on variety.
⚫ 50 tone capacity rice mill generates 350 kW from
rice husk which is generally dumped and wasted.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Case Studies of Producer’s gas
54
electricity
⚫ Electrification of Hosahalli village
⚫ A small-capacity one-top wood gasified has been developed
and implemented a field demonstration program in the
non-electrified South Indian village of Hosahalli.
⚫ The village has a population of 250 and was unelectrified.
⚫ A 20 kW one-top wood gasified was setup to meet the demand
for electricity.
⚫ The plant is providing electricity to the people, who in turn
have improved the overall economy and living conditions of
the villagers.
⚫ The loads being served by the power plant include domestic
lights, streetlights, drinking water and irrigation tube wells,
and a flourmill. The villagers themselves are managing the
power plant

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Services provided with Producer-gas
electricity
55

⚫ The electricity produced was used for three services: lighting,

pumping domestic water, and flour milling

⚫ Lighting
⚫ All the 42 houses were provided with a 40 W fluorescent tube anda
15 W incandescent bulb, along with eight streetlights.
⚫ Connected load is 2.68 kW. Hours of operation: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

⚫ Water Supply
⚫ A submersible pump of 3 hp capacity was connected to a deep tube
well.
⚫ Water is pumped to storage tanks to provide 2-3 hours of water
supply per day.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Services provided with Producer-gas
electricity
56

⚫ A 7.5 hp flourmill was connected to the producer gas

diesel-engine generator.
⚫ The flourmill, which is operated for 2 hours/day

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Biomass gasifier installed in Hosahalli in
Karnataka
57

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Electrification of Chhotomollakhali, a
village in West Bengal
58

⚫ Chhottomollakhali Island in Sunderbans situated in the

district of South 24 Parganas, is about 130 km. away from
Kolkata.
⚫ It has a population of about 28,000. The main
occupation of the people is fishing and agriculture.
⚫ It is difficult to extend grid electricity to
Chhottomollakhali Island due to prohibitive cost
involved in crossing of various rivers and creeks.
⚫ In the absence of electricity, the economic activities of the
Island were suffering.
⚫ The switching on of the 4x125 kW Biomass Gasifier based
Power Plant on 29th June 2001 has changed the life the
inhabitants of this remote Island.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Electrification of Chhotomollakhali, a
village in West Bengal
59

⚫ The plant is catering to electricity needs of domestic,

commercial and industrial user’s drinking water,
hospital, ice factory, etc.
⚫ Four villages of Chhottomollakhali Island will be
benefited with electricity from the power plant.
⚪ Plant capacity:4 x 125 kW
⚪ No. Of consumers: 800
⚪ Total Project Cost:Rs.1, 46, 70,390/-
⚪ Hours of operation: 5 PM to 11 PM

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Electrification of Chhotomollakhali, a
village in West Bengal
60

⚫ Tariff Structure:
⚪ a)4.00 / unit Domestic
⚪ b)4.50 / unit Commercial
⚪ c)5.00 / unit Industrial

⚫ Energy Plantation Area:40 hectares

⚫ Fuel Consumption pattern under full Load condition
⚪ (a)Biomass:70%

⚪ (b)Diesel :30%

⚫ Generation cost (per unit) under full load condition:

Rs.2.75

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Biomass availability issues
61

⚫ Before assessing the country's bioenergy production

potential, it is important to:
⚪ Estimate the land availability for biomass production.
⚪ Identify and evaluate the biomass production
options—yield/ha and financial viability.
⚪ Estimate sustainable biomass production potential for energy.
⚪ Estimate the energy potential of biomass production.
⚪ Assess the investment required and barriers to producing
biomass sustainably for energy.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Biomass availability issues
62

⚫ Different options for wood supply

⚪ Conservation potential of wood used in cooking.
⚪ Producing wood on community, government, or degraded
forest land.
⚪ Producing wood on degraded private or farm land.
⚪ Sustainable harvest from existing forest.

⚪ Logging waste.

⚪ Consideration of options 2 and 3 involves a range of related

issues, such as land availability, land quality, competitive uses
of land, and sustainability of wood production.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022

 Biomass availability issues
63

⚫ Some proportion of wood currently burnt, as cooking

fuel would become available for the producer-gas
electricity option.
⚫ Tree plantations, farm trees, homestead gardens,
and degraded lands are the various sources of fuel
wood used for cooking.
⚫ Among these sources, only wood from tree
plantations could be considered as easily available as
feedstock for power generation.
⚫ Woody biomass would be the dominant source of
feedstock for gasification.

Energy From Biomass 21-03-2022