Presented by- Gurpreet

Singh
CONVERSION OF BIOMASS L-2K16-AE-
178-M
INTRODUCTION
All plants materials produced through photosynthesis via carbon
dioxide fixation is biomass.
Major source of biomass is agricultural waste, residue, fuel wood, and
industrial waste.
Biomass can be use as energy source directly through combustion or
converted into gaseous, liquid and solid fuel.
In present scenario of biomass conversion to useful energy products,
selection of biomass suitable for specific use.

Source:- Chapter-1 characteristics of bioma

By:- AK jain
WHAT IS BIOMASS?
Biomass is organic matter produced plants
• It includes Terrestrial Plants(which are grows on land) and Aquatic
Plants(which are grow in water). It includes forest crops and residues,
crops grown for their energy content on energy farms and animal
manure.
• Coal, oil and natural gas takes millions of year for there formation but
are considered as renewable source because of plant life renews and
add to it self every year.

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BIOMASS

•Biomass is a renewable energy source because its supplies are not

limited. We can always grow trees and crops, and waste will always exist.
• Biomass gets its energy from the sun. During a process called
photosynthesis, sunlight gives plants the energy they need to convert
water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugars. These sugars, called
carbohydrates, these supply plants and the animals that eat plants with
energy.
BIOMASS
Solar energy Photosynthesis Biomass Energy Generation

Source:- goog
DIAGRAM OF BIOMASS SOURCES

Source:- goog
TYPES OF BIOMASS

1. WOOD AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

2. SOLID WASTE
3. LANDFILL GAS AND BIOGAS
4. ETHANOL
5. BIODIESEL

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WOOD AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

•Most biomass used today is home grown energy. Wood-Logs, chips,

bark, and sawdust accounts for about 44 percent of biomass energy.
•Agricultural waste products like fruit pits and corncobs.
Wood and wood waste are used to generate electricity. Much of the electricity is used
by the industries making the waste; it is not distributed by utilities, it is a process called
cogeneration. Paper mills and saw mills use much of their waste products to generate
steam and electricity for their use.
SOLID WASTE

Burning trash turns waste into a usable form of energy. One ton (2,000
pounds) of garbage contains about as much heat energy as 500 pounds
of coal. Garbage is not all biomass; perhaps half of its energy content
comes from plastics, which are made from petroleum and natural gas.
Power plants that burn garbage for energy are called waste-to-energy
plants. These plants generate electricity much as coal plants do, except
that combustible garbage not coal is the fuel used for their boilers.
LANDFILL GAS AND BIOGAS
Bacteria and fungi are not picky eaters. They eat dead plants and
animals, causing them to rot or decay. A fungus on a rotting log is
converting cellulose to sugars to feed itself. Although this process is
slowed in a landfill, a substance called methane gas is still produced
as the waste decays. New regulations require landfills to collect
methane gas for safety and environmental reasons. Methane gas is
colourless and odourless, but it is not harmless. The gas can cause
fires or explosions if it seeps into nearby homes and is ignited.
Landfills can collect the methane gas, purify it, and use it as fuel.
Methane can also be produced using energy from agricultural and
human wastes. Biogas digesters are airtight containers or pits lined
with steel or bricks. Waste put into the containers is fermented
without oxygen to produce a methane-rich gas
ETHANOL
Ethanol is an alcohol fuel (ethyl alcohol) made by fermenting the
sugars and starches found in plants and then distilling them. Any
organic material containing cellulose, starch, or sugar can be made
into ethanol. The majority of the ethanol produced in the United
States comes from corn. New technologies are producing ethanol
from cellulose in woody fibers from trees, grasses, and crop residues.
BIODIESEL
Biodiesel is a fuel made by chemically reacting alcohol with vegetable
oils, animal fats, or greases, such as recycled restaurant grease. Most
biodiesel today is made from soybean oil. Biodiesel is most often
blended with petroleum diesel in ratios of two percent (B2), five
percent (B5), or 20 percent (B20). It can also be used as neat (pure)
biodiesel (B100). Biodiesel fuels are compatible with and can be used
in unmodified diesel engines with the existing fuelling infrastructure
CATEGORIZED THE BIOMASS
These different type of biomass are divided into different categorizes.
There are 2 categorizes
1. Dry Biomass
2. Wet Biomass

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DRY BIOMASS
Dry biomass consists of tree chips, paper, various other plant matter such as corn, soybean,
sorghum, sunflower, oats, barley, wheat and hay.
Tress, bagasse, grass, municipal solid waste etc are also part of dry biomass
WET BIOMASS
Wet biomass tends to be in water or to stay moist
Examples are water plants, animal wastes, Municipal sewerage plant, industrial
waste stream plants and biodiesel oil
Treated with hydrogasification at high pressure and low temperatures to produce a
gas or biofuel oil
BIOMASS CONVERSION
These biomass resources are fall into 3 categories:-
1. Biomass in its traditional form
2. Biomass from non-traditional
3. Ferment the biomass

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CONVERSION PROCESS
In Traditional solid biomass is directly burn and get energy
In non-traditional biomass is converted into ethanol and methanol to
be used as liquid fuel.
By fermentation biomass is converted into gaseous fuel.
BIO-FUELS
The energy stored in dry biomass like wood and straw is most easily
released by direct combustion and dry material is also be converted
in to liquid and gaseous fuel.
Biomass is wet or has a moisture content like- sewage sludge,
vegetable matter can be dried and then burnt.
Fuel drivers from biomass are easily handled and burnt.
Refined biofuels have high calorific values and stored for long time.

Text book:- non-conventional renewable resource

CATEGORIES OF BIOFUEL
There are 3 types of fuel:-
1. Solid
2. Liquid
3. Gases
SOLID BIOFUELS
There are 3 solid biofuels:-
1. Wood
2. Straw
3. Municipal refuse
SOLID FUELS
Wood:- In the form of cut logs, wood chips and sawdust is currently
use for domestic heating and furniture industries.
It has low ash and sulphur content, burns easily.
The market for domestic wood stoves is thriving and several
industrial countries re-examining the potential of wood for industrial
and electricity generation
SOLID FUEL
Straw:- straw-burning stoves and furnaces are becoming increases
commonly in many countries.
Burn various size of bales, chopped and compressed straw.
Provide heat for drying crop, drying grains and water heating etc.
This minimize the storage cost.
SOLID FUEL
Municipal refuse:- It is far from an ideal fuel. It is messy to handle
and has a low variable energy content on average only about 1/3 of
coal.
Precaution must taken to ensure that corrosive combustion products
does not damage the boiler.
Refuse derived fuels can be burnet directly or combine with other
fuels such as residual oil or coal.
 LIQUID FUEL
Liquid biofuels are now replacing petrol and diesel as transport fuel in
several countries.
Liquid biofuels being investigated such as hydro-carbons from euphorbia
plants that can be grow in desert.
Methanol and Ethanol can be blended with unleaded petrol and burnt in
present day. Methanol contains 25% less energy then ethanol and 50% less
from petrol
Minor engine modification are necessary for blend containing more than
20% alcohol
Alcohol contains high octane rating but low calorific value than petrol
LIQUID FUEL
Vegetable oils:- vegetable oil from crushed seeds and nuts like-
sunflower, soya, palm etc
It is blend with diesel fuel or directly.
Vegetable oils is an attractive fuel for tractor and agricultural
machinery
GASES FUEL
Biogas:- The production of biogas from dung and agricultural wastes.
Biogas is mixture of methane and carbon with traces of hydrogen
sulphide. Methane – 50-70% depend on source
It is impracticable to store for long time at low pressure.
It can be burnt in stationary engines or turbine to generate heat and
mechanical or electrical energy.
GASES FUEL
Methane:- It is clean fuel with high calorific value.
It is converted into methanol By treatment with a catalyst at high
temperature and pressure.
It is also Compressed for use in limited rage vehicles like tractor.
GASES FUEL
Fuel gas:- It is produced by thermal degradation of fuel of biomass.
Main Combustible components are CO and H but calorific value is
vary according to the way it is produced or raw material.
BIOMASS CONVERSION
Conversions can take place may ways
1. Direct combustion
2. Thermochemical conversion
3. Biochemical Conversion

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BIOMASS CONVERSION
TECHNOLOGIES
There is wide verities of conversion technologies is available for
manufacturing premium fuel from biomass
1. Anaerobic digestion
2. Fermentation
3. Chemical reduction
4. Thermal process
5. Oil extraction

Text book:- non-conventional renewable resources

BIOMASS CONVERSION
TECHNOLOGY

Source:- goog
DIRECT COMBUSTION
The direct combustion of biomass in presence of oxygen/air to
produce heat and by products is called direct combustion.
The complete combustion of biomass into ash is called incineration.
This heat energy in the product gases or in the form of steam can be
used for various applications like space heating or cooling, power
generation, process heating in industries or any other application
Some processing, such as cleaning, chopping, etc. may be needed for
handling or air pollution avoidance
DIRECT COMBUSTION

Source:- goog
THERMOCHEMICAL CONVERSION
The thermo chemical reaction can convert the organic biomass into
more valuable and
convenient form of products as gaseous and liquid fuels, residue and
by-products etc.
These processes can be carried out in following ways:
1. Gasification
2. Pyrolysis
3. liquifaction

Text book:- non-conventional renewable resources

BIOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
In biochemical processes the bacteria and micro organisms are used
to transform the raw biomass into useful energy like methane and
ethane gas.
Following organic treatments are given to the biomass:
1) Fermentation of biomass (Aerobic digestion)
2) Anaerobic digestion of biomass

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CATEGORIZED THE PROCESSES
These are further categorizes the processes into 2 types
1. Wet processes
2. Dry processes

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WET PROCESSES
1. Anaerobic digestion
2. Fermentation
3. Chemical reduction

Text book:- non-conventional renewable resource

WET PROCESSES
Anaerobic digestion:
The anaerobic digestion or anaerobic fermentation process involves
the conversion of decaying wet biomass and animal waste into biogas
through decomposition process by the action of anaerobic bacteria.
Biogas is produced by the bacterial decomposition of wet sewage
sludge, animal dung or green plants in the absence of oxygen but
digestion takes much longer time.
The natural decay process anaerobic decomposition can be speeded
up by using thermally insulation, air tight tank and heating system.
Optimum temperature 35oc for complete decomposition of animal or
human residue in 10 days.
The residue left after digestion is valuable fertilizer.
BIOGAS
Biogas is a combustible gaseous fuel that is collected from the
microbial degradation of organic matter in anaerobic conditions
The gases methane, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide (CO) can
be combusted or oxidized with oxygen
Biogas contains 55-65% methane, 30-40% CO2, and the remainders
are impurities like H2S, H2, N2 gases.
BIOGAS GENERATION
Biogas can be produced by digestion pyrolysis or hydro gasification.
Digestion is a biological process that occurs in absence of O2 and in
presence of anaerobic organisms at atmospheric pressure and
temperatures of 35oC-70 0C.
The container in which the digestion takes place is called digester.
When organic matter undergoes fermentation, the anaerobic bacteria
extracts oxygen by decomposing the biomass at low temperatures up
to 65oC in the presence of moisture. (80-95%), the gas so produced
is called biogas.
PROCESS OF BIOGAS
FACTORS AFFECTING BIOGAS
PRODUCTION
The rate of production of biogas depends on the following factors:
1) Temperature & Pressure
2) Solid concentration
3) Retention period
4) pH value
5) Nutrients composition
6) Toxic substances
7) Digester size & shape
8) Stirring agitation of the content of digestion

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FACTORS AFFECTING BIOGAS
PRODUCTION
9) Loading rate
10) Uniform feeding
APPLICATION OF BIOGAS
•Biogas is used as cooking fuel.
•Biogas is mental light gas burner for lighting purpose.
•Biogas is used for water heating.
•It is used as fuel in I.C. Engine.
•It is used as fuel to run agricultural machineries.
•It is used to run diesel engine generator set to produce electricity.
CLASSIFICATION OF BIOGAS
PLANTS
Biogas plants are mainly classified as:
1.Continuous and batch type(as per the process)
a)Single stage process
b)Double stage process
2. The dome and drum type
3. Different variation in the drum type

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CONTINUOUS TYPE
There is single digester in which raw material charged regularly and
the process is goes on without interruption except the repair and
cleaning etc.
There are two types of continuous biogas palnts
1) Single stage
2) double stage
DIAGRAM OF SINGLE STAGE
AND DOUBLE STAGE CONTINUOUS
PLANT
Two stage digestion process

Single process digester

BATCH TYPE BIOGAS PLANTS
The feeding is between intervals, the plant is emptied the procee of
digestion is complete. In this battery of digester are charged along
with urea etc. and allowed to produce gas for 40-50 days.
The freshly charged digester is aerated for few days after which is
closed to atmosphere. The biogas supply may be utilised after 8-10
days.
THE DOME AND THE DRUM TYPE
There are numerous models of biogas plants but mainly there are 2
types
1. The floating gas holder plants (KVIC)
2. Fixed dome digester
A) Janta biogas plant
B) deenbandhu biogas plant
C) china biogas plant
FLOATING-DRUM PLANTS
Floating-drum plants consist of a digester and a moving gasholder

The gasholder floats either direct on the fermentation slurry or in a

water jacket of its own

When the gas collects in the gas drum, it rises

If gas is drawn off, it falls again

The gas drum is prevented from tilting by a guide frame

FLOATING DRUM TYPE BIOGAS
PLANT

Source:- Goog
FIXED-DOME PLANT
A fixed-dome plant consists of an enclosed digester with a
fixed, non-movable gas space
The gas is stored in the upper part of the digester
When gas production commences, the slurry is displaced into
the compensating tank
Gas pressure increases with the volume of gas stored, therefore
the volume of the digester should not exceed 20 m³
If there is little gas in the holder, the gas pressure is low
FIXED DOME TYPE BIOGAS PLANTS

Source:- Google
JANTA BIOGAS PLANTS
JBP is fixed dome plant is built with bricks and cement as immovable.
There is no moving part, hence very less wear and tear, less
maintenance and no corrosion take place.
Displaced of slurry provides necessary pressure.
JANTA BIOGAS PLANT
DEENBANDHU BIOGAS PLANT
This design introduced by Action For Food Production, a national
Non-Government Voluntary organisation.
It is fixed dome type similar as JBP
Most valuable low cost spherical shaped fixed dome deenbandhu
DEENBANDHU BIOGAS PLANT
ADVANTAGES OF BIOGAS
•Cost of equipments used for making biogas is less and equipments
used are very
•simple.
•Biogas can be used for lighting, running the engines, farm’s machine
and cooking gas in the kitchen.
•Biogas is the best medium for cooking food.
•Organic feed stocks used in the plants are easily available at all
places.
•Biogas plant gives efficiency as much as 60%.
ADVANTAGES
•Waste product obtained from digester is best quality of fertilizer and
gives best yields.
•Creates employment locally
DISADVANTAGES OF BIOGAS
•Biogas produced from biogas plant has to be used at near by places
only. It can’t be transported over long distances.
•Biogas can’t be filled in the bottles.
•Biogas plant requires more area.
•It can be established in urban area where availability of land is
limited.
WET PROCESSES
Fermentation:
•Fermentation is a process of decomposition of complex molecules of
organic compound under the influence of micro-organism(ferment)
such as yeast, bacteria, enzymes etc.
•Ethanol is produced by the fermentation of sugar solution by natural
yeasts.
•After 30 hours of fermentation the beer is contain 6-10% alcohol and
can be removed by distillation.
•The fibrous residue from plants like sugarcane bagasse, paddy straw
etc. have been burnt to provide heat.
PROCESSES
•One tonne of sugar will produce upto 520 litres of alcohol.
•After fermentation the residue from grains and other feed stuffs
contains high protein content and is a useful cattle feed supplement.
WET PROCESSES
Chemical reduction:
•Chemical reduction is the least developed of the biomass conversion
processes.
•Pressure- cooking the animal waste or plant cellulosic slurry with
alkaline catalyst in the presence of carbon monoxide at temperature
250-400 oc and the organic matter converted into mixture of oil. The
calorific value of product is if pressure is low and temperature is
high.
DRY PROCESSES
1. Pyrolysis
2. Liquefaction
3. Gasification
4. Steam gasification
5. Hydrogenation
6. Hydrolysis

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DRY PROCESSES
Pyrolysis :- the energy rich fuels can be produced by roasting dry
woody matter like saw dust and wood chips. The material fed into
reactor vessel and heated in the absence of air. The temperature is
rise the cellulose and lignin is break down to simple substance. The
range of temperature lies between 500-1000 0c.

Liquefaction:- the liquid are maximized by rapid heating of the

feedstock at low temperature. The vapours are condensed from the
gas stream and saperated into 2 phases- 1) Aqueous Phase- contains
water soluble organic matter like- acetone, acetic acid
2) Non aqueous phase- it consists of oils and tars.
DRY PROCESSES
Gasification:- Pyrolysis of wet biomass produced fuel gas. For
maximizing the gas yield is blow small quantity of air in the reactor
and to increase the temperature 1000 c.
Air blower Gasifier has low calorific value and may be 40%inert
nitrogen gas
Oxygen fed system has medium calorific value
GASIFIERS
It is equipment which can gasify a variety of biomass such as wood
waste, agricultural waste like straw, stalks etc. the gasifier is
essentially a chemical reactor where various complex physical and
chemical processes take place.
The heating value is 950-1200 kcal/m cube. Hydrogen 18-20% and
carbon monoxide 18-24% are main constituents.
Methods of converting biomass
A. biochemical
B. thermochemical
CLASSIFICATION OF GASIFIERS
1. direction of the flow of gas
2. capacity of the gasifier
3. as per output power
4. based on types of bed
a. fixed bed
b. fluidised bed
DRY PROCESSES
Hydrogenation:- less severe condition of temperature and pressure
300-400 0 c and at 100 atm pressure respectively, carbon monoxide
and steam react with cellulose to produce heavy oils.

Hydrolysis:- it is technology which converts cellulose to alcohols

through fermentation. Ethyl alcohol can be produced from a variety of
sugar by fermentation with yeasts. Molasses is diluted with water to
sugar content of about 20%, pH 4.5 and mixed with yeast. Ammonia is
used to reduce acidity.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS PROCESS
Photosynthesis is a chemical process that converts carbon dioxide
into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from
sunlight.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS PROCESS
Biomass is produced in the photosynthesis process which converts
the solar energy into biomass energy.
Photosynthesis process only occurs in green plants.it is the process
of combining the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere with water
plus light energy to carbohydrates produce(sugars, starches,
celluloses etc.)and oxygen.
photosynthesis
6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy C6H12O6 + 6O2
STEPS INVOLVE IN
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Splitting of water molecule into H2 & O2 under influence of
chlorophyll. “Light Reaction”
Hydrogen is transferred to CO2 to form Starch or Sugar.
CHARACTERISTICS OF BIOMASS
Fuel characteristics important to the design and analysis of biomass
conversion processes. These properties are useful in biomass
conversion processes. These properties are:-
1. Physical Properties:- Density, angle of repose and moisture content
2. Chemical Properties:- Calorific value and proximate analysis
3. Thermal Properties:- Elemental analysis and chemical properties

Source:- Chapter-1 characteristics of b

By:- AK jain
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
1. Density:- One of the most important characteristic of biomass
usually classified as bulk density and true density.
True density is the weight per unit volume of a single biomass
piece. It is also referred as specific density. It depends upon biomass
moisture and a constant value on dry basis. True density of wood vary
from 600-820 kg/m3
The bulk density is the weight of bulk biomass material divided by
the volume occupied. The weight of the biomass depends on the size,
shape and densification. It is useful in the evaluation of transportation
cost and storage space for biomass fuel. Density of wood is 250-330
kg/m3
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
2. Angle of repose:- The angle of repose is the angle made by the
biomass from the horizontal to the sides of pile under free falling
condition.
It is useful in the determination of the angle of fuel hopper, fuel
transportation lines to the furnaces or gasifier. It is a flow property of
the material.
The value of angle of repose depend on the size and moisture
content of the biomass
During the thermochemical conversion process the angle of repose
change due to change in shape and size of the fuel particle.
The angle of repose for over dry paddy husk 58 Degree.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
3. Moisture content:- biomass are hygroscopic in nature and absorb
moisture from the atmosphere. Moisture in biomass is fundamentally
subdivided into inherent, surface and decomposition moisture.
Inherent moisture is the moisture a fuel can hold in the capillary
openings of the biomass in equilibrium with atmosphere.
surface moisture occurs on the surface of the biomass
• The percent moisture content of the biomass can be determined by
drying the sample110 oc in hot air oven. Formula of percent moisture.
• MC = (wet wgt- dry wgt/wgt wgt) * 100
THERMAL CHARACTERISTICS
Heating value:- Heating value or calorific value is the heat released by
the fuel under idea combustion condition. It is classify into higher
heating value and lower heating value.
HCV= LCV+ latent heat of vaporization of water*Weight fraction of
water+ expansion work
Proximate analysis:-it is measure the fixed carbon, volatile matter,
ash and moisture in biomass. No standard technique for proximate
analysis of biomass.
The moisture and Volatile matter are drived off and residue is left
after 7 mint. Is fixed carbon and ash.
Ash= (weight of ash/weight of wet biomass)*100
Proximate analysis
(Fc+VM+Ash+MC=100) Source:- Chapter-1 characteristics of b
By:- AK jain
THERMAL CHARACTERISTICS
The volatile matter of any substance is a board sense is the fraction
that is driven off by heating the sample to specific time and
temperature. It is important parameter because it characteries the
expected contamination of the raw gas with condensable vapours in
any gasifier.
Ash is the material content in the fuel that remains in oxidized form
after combustion. The ash content and its composition have major
impact on the operation of a gasifier. High ash content lower the
energy content and more the space is provided where the ash can be
discharged. The ash constituents SiO2, Al2O3 , Fe2O3, SO3 etc.
THERMAL CHARACTERISTICS
Thermo gravimetric analysis:- in this the biomass is heated under
controlled conditions of temperature and environment. It provides
information on weight change as the function of temperature and
time.
It is carried under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions.
PROSPECTS OF BIOMASS IN INDIA

Source:- Goog
PROSPECTS OF BIOMASS IN INDIA

Source:- Goog
ADVANTAGES OF BIOMASS
•Biomass is perennial source of renewable energy and it can be
repeatedly grown and obtained as biomass.
•Biomass is non pollutant of atmosphere.
•Production of biomass not only gives fuels but it also gives good
quality organic manures which when used in farms give bumper
crops.
•Methane gas produced from biomass is used as domestic fuel in gas
stoves.
•Biomass is available everywhere and no needs of any transportations.
•Methane gas can be used to run engines and generator and electricity
can generate.
ADVANTAGES OF BIOMASS
•The biomass can be grown in near by seas and lakes. The lands can
be spread for food crops.
•I.C. Engines can be run on biogas produced from biomass.
•Biomass can be used for plastics and pharmaceutical products.
•Use of biomass keeps surroundings clean and healthy without insects
and pests.
DISADVANTAGES OF BIOMASS
•Biomass contains 50-90% water and it is heavy. Hence transportation
if needed is very difficult.
•Direct combustion of biomass produces smokes and smells.
•Calorific value of biomass if burnt in the raw form is very less.
•Biogas plants need lots of care and maintenance for its successful
operations.
•It is economical if raw biomass such as cow dung is not freely
available.
•Biomass conversion plants such as biogas are necessary to convert
raw biomass into useful energy forms.
• Biogas plants occupy larges land areas.
•If the biomass is required to be transported over long distances, the
cost transportation is very high.
REFERENCES
Text book:- non-conventional renewable resources by GD rai
Handbook of renewable sources
Chapter- 1 characteristics of biomass by AK jain