Biomass Energy

Technologies
• Bengaluru – 5,000 tonnes per day
• Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubali and Darwada - 300 tonner per
day each city
• Belagavi and Kalburgi – 150 tonner per day each

Source:
The Hindu (News Paper)
Deccan Herald (News Paper)
 ENERGY FROM BIOMASS

• The materials of plants and animals is called Bio-

mass.
• Biomass is organic matter produced by plants,
both terrestrial and aquatic.
• It is organic carbon based material that reacts
with oxygen in combustion and natural metabolic
processes, to release heat.
 Renewability of Biomass
Biomass is a Renewable Source which implies that it
is the part of the flow of resources occurring naturally
and repeatedly in the environment.

The Term “Renewable” is defined as a material that

can be restored when initial stock is exhausted.
Sustainability of Biomass
Biomass Conversion Technologies
 Biomass Sources

• Wood, Saw dust.

• Agriculture residues - Rice Husk, Bagasse, Ground
nut Shells, Coffee Husk, Straws, Coconut Shells,
Coconut Husk, Jute sticks, etc.
• Aquatic and Marine Biomass - Algae, Water
Hyacinth, Aquatic weeds and plants, Coral Reep,
Etc.
• Wastes : Municipal Solid waste, Sewage Sludge,
Animal Waste, Industrial waste etc.
Solar Energy -----> Photosynthesis ----->
Bio-mass---->Energy generation
Origin Of Biomass.

Photosynthesis:-

• Photosynthesis is the making (synthesis) of organic structures and

chemical energy stores by the action of solar radiation (photo).

• Radiant energy from the sun is absorbed by the green pigment -

Chlorophyll

• Photosynthesis in plants is the Biological conversion of solar

energy into sugars and starches

CO2 + H2O -------( Light) ---- CH2O (Carbohydrate) +O2

6CO2 + 12H2O -------( Light) ------ C6H12O6 (Sugar) + 6H2O + 6O2
Photosynthesis process:- Two main steps:

• Splitting of H2O into—H2 and O2 under influence

of chlorophyll and sunlight. This is called Light
reaction.

• Photolysis of H2O
• O2 escapes to atmosphere,
• H2 is transformed into some unknown compounds.
• Hydrogen is transferred from this unknown compound to
CO2 to form sugar or starch. This is called Dark reaction.
(No-need for sunlight)
 Conditions necessary for photosynthesis

• A part of energy 40-45% in the wave length range

of 400-700nm is sufficient to produce
photosynthesis.

• Maximum Efficiency of photosynthesis:- 5%

Bio-fuel categories:-
1. Solid:-
• Wood- low ash and Sulphur content
• Straw – can be burnt in straw burning stoves
• Municipal refuse – Low energy content, Harmful products

2. Liquid:-
• Methanol, Ethanol—can be burnt in I.C. engines.
Requirements: Minor engine modifications (for >20% substitution),
Higher RC, Pre-heating of fuel, Corrosive
• Vegetable oil from seeds and nuts: Ex:- Sunflower, Peanut, Soya,
Coconut
• Non-edible oils: Jatropha, Honge, simaruba, etc

3. Gases:-
• Bio-gas from animal dung and agricultural waste
• Wood gas (Producer Gas) by thermal degradation of Bio-mass
BIOGAS TECHNOLOGY
Biogas gas - produced by the biological breakdown of
organic matter in the absence of oxygen
 BIOGAS

• Bio-gas is a mixture containing 55-65% Methane and 30-

40% Co2 and rest impurities (H2, H2,S, N2)
• Calorific Value of methane :- 20,000to 23,000KJ/m3
• Some organic materials Ex:- Lignin and all in-organic
inclusions do not digest and form-----SCUM
 BIOGAS
• 3-Ranges of temperature favors particular types of bacteria.
• Digestion at higher temperature proceeds more rapidly with
gas yield doubling at about every 5 degree increase
• The temperature ranges are
• Psicrophilic  20c
• Mesophilic  35c
• Thermophilic  about 55c
The Biological process occurs in 3-stages each facilitated by distinct sets
of an-aerobic bacteria

Step-1:- Insoluble bio-degradable materials like Cellulose, polysaccharides

and fats are broken down to soluble carbohydrates and fatty acids, which
occurs in a day at 25c in active digester
Step-2: - Acid forming bacteria produce mainly acetic and propionic acid.
This stage takes about one day at 25c
Step-3: - Methane forming bacteria slowly, in about 14 days at 25c
complete the digestion to 70% CH 4, 30% CO2 with trace amount of H2,
H2S.
Methane forming bacteria are sensitive to Ph and conditions should be
mildly acidic (Ph 6.6 to 7.0). Nitrogen should be present at 10% by mass of
dry input and phosphorus at 2%
Factors affecting bio-digestion
1. Ph (6.5 to 7.5)
2. Temperature (20 – 55 deg C)
3. Total solid content (Eg:- Cow dung 1:1 (by weight) )
4. Loading rate: - Cow dung---1.2 to 5.3 kg volatile solids/m3/day (Uniform
feeding)
5. Seeding
6. C/N ratio (carbon to nitrogen =30)
7. Dia/depth=0.66 to 1.0
8. Retention time (well fermented) Cowdung-50 days, Pig dung—20 days,
Poultry droppings---20 days, Night soil—30 days
9. Mixing or stirring or agitation of the contents of the digester.
a. Slurry should be properly mixed
b. Slight mixing improves the fermentation
c. Violent slurry agitation retards the digestion
10. Toxicity: - Digested slurry if allowed to remain in the digester beyond a
certain time, becomes toxic to the microorganisms. Pesticides and
disinfectants from farms can kill bacteria
 Floating Drum Type Biogas Plant

• 1 tonne /day, Cow dung based Biogas plant implemented at OXYgen Acres
Farm Chikahalli, Mysore by NIE-CREST
• Electricity generated from the Biogas using a diesel engine – 15kW engine.
BIOGAS PLANT – FLOATING DRUM TYPE
1500KG/DAY Biogas plant at Mysore zoo. Project under
JNNRUM. Design, construction by NIE-CREST ( October
2011)
1500 kg/day Input biogas plant at Mysore Zoo built by NIE-CREST- cost 25 lakh Rupees (
40000 us dollars)
1500 kg/day Input biogas
plant at Mysore Zoo.
1500 kg/day Input biogas
plant at Mysore Zoo.
 Biogas Engine – uses 100% Biogas.
Diesel engine : 80% biogas + 20% Diesel.
( No Modification Required )
BIOGAS PLANT – CIRCULAR FIXED
DOME
Fixed dome type – Under
Construction
Biogas From Organic Waste/Kitchen Waste
 Waste and Waste Management

The 23 metro cities in India generates about 30,000 tonnes of such wastes per day
while about 50,000 tonnes are generated daily from the Class I cities.
Organic Waste
K.R.Market, Mysore
1) SCARCITY OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
– LPG!.
2) EVERY DOMESTIC LPG CYLINDER
SUBSIDY IS AROUND RS. 324/-.
3) BIO- GARBAGE DISPOSAL PROBLEM
IN TOWNS, CITIES.
STAR OF MYSORE.
17th May 2008.

Oil companies
incurring loss Rs.550
crores per day.
 “KITCHEN WASTE BASED COMPACT BIOGAS PLANT”.

•An effective technology which uses kitchen waste (starchy or sugary

feedstock) for the production of biogas.

• This compact biogas plant can be fabricated using ‘PVC’ tanks and
locally available plumbing materials
KITCHEN WASTE BASED BIOGAS PLANT
 KITCHEN WASTE BASED BIOGAS PLANT

•It can produce biogas using kitchen waste which is considered as high calorific
feed which is not fully utilized.
•Can replace 50% of LPG use in urban areas and it also serves as a parallel
system for cow dung based biogas plant in rural areas which is expensive and
costly to maintain.
 Specification Of The Plant
System Elements 1000Lts PVC Tanks, 60 mm Ball Valve, 90 mm PVC Pipe,
Biogas Stove, Adapter etc.

Biogas Generated 650 Lts/Day (Depends on ambient temperature and Quality of

Feed)
Feed Stock Any Biomass Waste which contains Carbohydrates, Proteins
and Fats that are easily Biodegradable(Do not Feed Citrus
Biomass)
Typical Biogas 65% Methane, 25-30% Carbon, 5% Hydrogen, Water Vapour
Composition
Applications Biogas Produced can be connected to Biogas Stove for Cooking
of can be used to Run Engine.
Feed Rate 1kg dry ( 2 Kg wet) /12 Hrs (Max)
COMPACT BIOGAS Plant ARRANGEMENT
Kitchen Waste Biogas plant at NIE, Canteen, Mysore, India. A Step towards
Sustainability …………………
FEEDS WHICH CAN BE USED FOR COMPACT BIOGAS PLANT:
Training by NIE-CREST, to build Kitchen waste based Biogas
plant at Port Blair- Andaman & Nicobar Islands
 Project
Establishing Small Kitchen waste Biogas Plant’s ( First of
its Kind in Karnataka).

1) Belamagi Village, Gulbarga.

Project Sponsored by : NABARD, Gulbarga.
Local NGO :Parivarthana.
Technical input : NIE-CREST.
Total systems in village : 20.

2) Mandaya District, Karnataka.

Local NGO: Vikasana.
Project sponsored by : NABARD, Mandya.
Total System : 20.
Kitchen Waste Biogas Plant of capacity 100Kg/Day at ATI,
Mysore. - Implementation NIE-CREST
Inauguration Of Kitchen Waste Biogas Plant at ATI, Mysore on 13th Dec.
2010 by Dr.Amitha Prasasd, Director General.
Utilization of Biogas for Engines:

• Biogas may be used for Internal Combustion

Engines after purification of the raw gas.
• The removal of H2O, H2S and particles can
be seen as standard producing a gas which has
the same quality as Compressed Natural Gas.
• Biogas can be used to operate both SI & CI
engines.
Biogas holder
Engine run on biogas
Biogas Engine – uses 100% Biogas
(No Modification Required )
 Modification of SI Engine:

• SI engine can run completely on Biogas.

• However the engines are to be started on petrol at the
beginning.
• Conversion of S.I. engines for operating on Biogas
include – provision for entry of Biogas, throttling of
Intake air, and advancing ignition timing.
• Biogas is admitted to stationary engine through intake
manifold.
• Air flow control valve is provided on air cleaner pipe.
• Air intake is manually throttled in the initial stage.
Modification Of CI engines:
to run on 100% Biogas
• Provision for entry of biogas with air intake.
• Advancing the injection timing.
• Provision of a system to reduce diesel supply
(duel fuel mode of running).
 Biogas-bus in Bern, Switzerland

Biogas Linienbus (Volvo 7700 CNG) von BernMobil in

Ostermundigen (bei Bern, Schweiz) (links), Diesel-Bus (rechts)
 BIOMASS GASIFICATION
TECHNOLOGY FOR POWER
Background
• Availability and effective utilization of the
renewable source like biomass, is very
much essential for sustainable development
• One such technology for energy generation
using biomass can be gasification
technology.
• Gasifier technology for efficient conversion
of biomass to energy and other products is
currently developed in the country.
Gasification technology
• Biomass is a natural substance
available, which stores solar energy by
the process of photosynthesis in the
presence of sunlight.
• It chiefly contains cellulose, hemi
cellulose and lignin.
Gasification technology …………………

• Theoretically, the ratio of air to fuel required for the

complete combustion of the biomass defined as
stoichiometric combustion is 6:1 to 6.5:1, with the end
products being CO2 and H2O.
• In gasification the combustion is carried out at sub-
stoichiometric conditions with air to fuel ratio being
1.5:1 to 1.8:1. The gas so obtained is called producer
gas, which is combustible.
Gasifier
• A biomass gasifier system involves partial combustion
and reduction operation of biomass with air under sub
-stoichiometric conditions.
• The resultant gas known as producer gas containing
H2, CO, CH4, CO2 & N2 after cleaning is used
directly as fuel in the existing DG plants for power
generation with 80%(gas) and 20%(diesel) ratio or in
gas engine with 100% gas without use of any
conventional fuel.
BIOMASS GASIFIER PLANT AT N.I.E., MYSORE

75 kg/hr gasifier plant

Open top, down draft gasifier
+ Air
Open top, down draft gasifier , IISc, design.
BIOMASS GASIFIER PLANT AT N.I.E, MYSORE
(Demonstration Plant)

• The Institute having a concern towards sustainable

development, renewable energy and appropriate
technologies has established a 75 kg Biomass gasifier
power plant in its premises.
• The gasifier plant is retrofitted to the existing two
100kVA diesel generators (DG1 and DG2 in parallel) of
the institute to generate power using coconut shell and
wood waste as fuel.
 Working principle

The main elements of the system are:

1) Reactor 2) Cooler 3) Filter 4) cooling unit 5) Burner/Engine

1) REACTOR
 REACTOR

• The reactor is a cylindrical vessel made of mild steel,

with an inner lining of cold face insulation bricks,
hot face insulation bricks and ceramic tiles composed
largely of alumina.
• Air nozzles, provided around the combustion zone,
are kept open during the running of the system. To
allow for uniform air availability across the reacting
bed.
 REACTOR

• A water seal with a removable cover forms the top of

the reactor, which is kept open during the entire
operation of the system, to facilitate primary air
induction and loading of feedstock.
• A motorized ash extraction system is provided at the
reactor bottom to hold the char or ash as the case
may be, with a mechanism for intermittent
extraction of char/ash.
3 Cooler
Gas cooling System
• It consists of a direct water impingement cooler, which
is meant for cooling the hot gases to ambient for engine
applications and scrubbing the gas to remove the
entrained tar and particulate matter.
• When the gasifier system is operated at the rated load,
the system requires 100 lits/min of water on a
continuous basis for a 75 kg/hr system. The coolers
perform the twin functions of cooling and cleaning the
producer gas.
4) FILTER
 Gas filtering system

• This sub system consists of sand filters.

• The purpose of the filtering system is to reduce
the quantity of tar, particulate matter and
moisture in the gas to levels that are acceptable
admission into diesel engines.
5) BURNER
 Burner
• This is provided to check the initial quality of the
combustible gas as also for emergency flaring.
• As the gasifier system is under suction the possibility of
gas leaking into the ambient from most of the system
elements could be totally ruled out.
• However there is possibility of air leaking into the system
thus diluting the gas.
• This could lead to flame travel backwards in the event of
start up i.e., at the time of lighting or torching the gas in
the flare. To avoid the air leaking, water seals at several
locations is provided.
6) DIESEL ENGINE
 INFRASTRUCTURE

• The gasifier plant is housed in a well ventilated

structure of 73 m2 area adjacent to the diesel
generator room of the institute.
• A storage space is also provided to stock the
coconut shells and other biomass.
INFRASTRCTURE …….
Specifications Of Gasifier plant in N.I.E

Parameter Specification

Type Open top down draft solid bio-residue gasifier,

IISC, Bangalore, India,Technology.

Rating 75 kWh or 190 m 3/hour gas generation capacity

Feed stock Any solid biomass with bulk density over 250
Kg/m 3, moisture content less than 15%, ash less
than 2% cut to a maximum size of 60 mm * 40
mm *40 mm.
Typical gas composition CO: 20%; CH 4: 3%; H 2 : 20%;
CO 2:12% ; and rest N 2 .

Lower calorific value of gas 4.5 MJ/ m 3

Generator 100 KVA, 1500 rpm, Kirloskar make Diesel

Generator
Fuel for the gasifier plant
• Coconut shell/ sawmill waste wood was used
as main fuel.
• Cleaned, dry and broken shells in sizes of 1” to
2”, packed in gunny bags was procured from
local dealers at a cost of around INR 3000/
ton.
• Waste wood pieces generated in our carpentry
shop, is also used as fuel for the gasifier plant
after cutting it to the required size.
Fuel for the gasifier plant
 SYSTEM PERFORMANCE
• Initially the gasifier was running with a low
diesel replacement of 50 to 60% based on the
recommendations of the student projects
modifications and fine-tuning of the plant.
• It was working with a maximum diesel
replacement of around 80 to 85%.
i) Charcoal extraction system was modified to
optimize the efficiency of the plant.
ii) The cooling system was modified to improve the
flow rate of water.
By product recovery
• Activated carbon is one of the byproduct generated from
the plant.
• A student project was done to find ratio of input biomass
to activated carbon generated and to evaluate its iodine
number.
• Based on the experimentation and analysis, it is found
that about 4 to 6% of the input biomass are recovered as
activated charcoal and it has an iodine number in the
range of 350 to 400 .
• We have started using activated coal to fuel the open-
hearth furnaces in the smithy/forging section of our
institute.
Byproduct recovery
Updraft Gasiifer
Updraft Gasifier

• Updraft gasifier is also called as counter flow gasifier.

• In this type of gasifier the air enters at the bottom and the
gas is drawn off at the top.
• The updraft gasifier produces highest efficiencies as the
hot gas pass through fuel bed and leaves the gasifier at low
temperature.
• The updraft gasifier cannot convert the tar produced in the
pyrolysis to the gaseous product.
• It is unsuitable for high volatile fuels.
 Cross Draft Gasifier:

• In a cross draft gasifier the air enters from one side of

gasifier reactor and gas is taken out from other side.
• The cross draft gasifier is one of the simplest gasifier
designs.
• It has a quick start time and reaches high temperatures
which may require air or water cooled nozzles.
• The cross draft gasifier requires low tar fuels like
charcoal and like most gasifiers, fuel size is very
important to avoid bridging.
• Cross draft gasifiers aren't used all that often because
other gasifier designs offer more flexibility and better
performance across fuel types.
Liquid Bio-Fuels

1) Biomass to Ehanol.-
• Gasohol in US
• Proalcol in Brail
• Carburol in France
2) Bio-Oil (Diesel)
Bio- oils (Bio-Diesel)

• Biodiesel is an alternative fuel similar to

conventional or ‘fossil’ diesel.
• Biodiesel can be produced from straight
vegetable oil, animal oil/fats, tallow and
waste cooking oil.
• The process used to convert these oils to
Biodiesel is called transesterification.
 What are the benefits of Biodiesel?

• Biodiesel has many environmentally beneficial

properties. The main benefit of biodiesel is that it can be
described as ‘carbon neutral’.
• This means that the fuel produces no net output of
carbon in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2).
• This effect occurs because when the oil crop grows it
absorbs the same amount of CO2 as is released when
the fuel is combusted
Production of fuel grade bio-diesel from seed
• The Transesterification process is the reaction of a
triglyceride (fat/oil) with an alcohol to form esters and
glycerol.
• A triglyceride has a glycerin molecule as its base with
three long chain fatty acids attached.
• The characteristics of the fat are determined by the
nature of the fatty acids attached to the glycerin.
• The nature of the fatty acids can in turn affect the
characteristics of the biodiesel.
• During the esterification process, the triglyceride is
reacted with alcohol in the presence of a catalyst,
usually a strong alkaline like sodium hydroxide.
• The alcohol reacts with the fatty acids to form the
mono-alkyl ester, or biodiesel and crude glycerol.
• In most production methanol or ethanol is the alcohol
used (methanol produces methyl esters, ethanol
produces ethyl esters) and is base catalyzed by either
potassium or sodium hydroxide.
• Potassium hydroxide has been found to be more suitable
for the ethyl ester biodiesel production, either base can be
used for the methyl ester.
Vegetable oil as a Honge - seeds
substitute to Diesel.
 Bio-diesel From Pongamia.
Student Project @ NIE, Mysore
Bio-Diesel Plant at NIE-Mysore
 Bio-Fuel Policy – Govt. Of India/Karnataka-2009

Policy decision by the Government of India:

5 percent blending to bio‐fuel with fossil fuel was endorsed by Government
of India and the use of 5 percent ethanol‐gasoline blend has already been
approved by the Bureau of India Standards (BIS) and

Policy Statement of Karnataka

Only non‐edible oil seed would be harnessed for the purpose of producing
bio‐diesel so that the edible oil is left for cooking purposes for the people.

Cultivation of non‐edible oil seeds required for bio‐diesel would be promoted on

dry land, marginal land, and waste land and degraded forest land, owned by
private or government, including “Block Plantation”. Use of food crop land to
grow non‐edible oil seeds will be not encouraged, so as not to compromise food
security.
Karnataka State Bio‐fuel Development Board (BSBDB)
has been set up for this purpose with the Hon’ble Chief Minister as its
Chairperson the Board will have an Executive Committee headed by the
Additional Chief Secretary & Development Commissioner who would look
into the day‐to‐day administration of the Board. The Board will have a senior
officer exclusively as the Managing Director to drive the policy prescriptions.
 R and D Efforts
 Students Project
Students of Department of Mechanical
Engineering , NIE conduct performance test
of diesel engine using biodiesel from B10 to
B100. Some of them are doing advanced
studies on biodiesel at OWI, University of
Aachen, Germany through internship –
Posters at NIE-CREST.
Studies Project proposed on
•Characteristics of Seed
•Characteristics of seed cake
•Characteristics of raw honge oil
•Characteristics of biodiesel from honge
•Performance test on engines with
different blends, emission tests
Bar soaps were prepared using different concentrations of NaOH with crude
glycerin and the soaps have shown good results in dish wash and washing of
Glass wares.
500ml Glycerol ( 70 deg. Cent.) + 100ml distilled water ( 40 deg. Cent.) + 20g
NAOH
 Glycerol Seed Glycerol Saw Ignition of pellets on a
Cake Pellets dust Pellets biogas burner
Pellets were prepared by combining glycerol with seed cake and Glycerol with Saw
dust. The pellets were explored for their potential to be used as fuel. They ignited well
Development of Oxidation stability test rig by students
Algae fuel or algal biofuel is an alternative to fossil fuel that
uses algae as its source of natural deposits.

Dry mass factor is the percentage of dry biomass in relation to

the fresh biomass; e.g. if the dry mass factor is 5%, one would
need 20 kg of wet algae (algae in the media) to get 1 kg of dry
algae cells.

Lipid content is the percentage of oil in relation to the dry

biomass needed to get it; e.g. if the algae lipid content is 40%,
one would need 2.5 kg of dry algae to get 1 kg of oil.
Ethanol

Bioethanol is defined as ethyl alcohol obtained

from biomass, having an alcohol content of at least 99%.

Bioethanol can be used as an alternative fuel either in its

pure form or as an admixture to petrol.

Ethanol is an alcohol-based fuel made by fermenting and

distilling starch crops, such as corn. It can also be made from
"cellulosic biomass" such as trees and grasses.

The use of ethanol can reduce our dependence upon foreign oil
and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
•Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, is a volatile,
flammable, colorless liquid with the structural
formula CH3CH2OH, often abbreviated as
C2H5OH or C2H6O.

•Formula: C2H6O
Density: 789.00 kg/m³
Boiling point: 78.37 °C
Melting point: -114 °C
Cv= 29000 kj/kg.