Unit 2: Biomass

Conversion Techniques
Biomass Conversion Processes

• Biomass are highly dispersed, bulky and contain large amount

of water.
• Conversion of Biomass into useful secondary energy must take
place, considering economics and transportation over long
distances.
• Biomass can be converted to liquid or gaseous fuels, thereby
increasing its energy density and making feasible
transportation over long distance.
• The biomass conversion process has several routes depending
upon temperature, pressure, micro organism utilized, process
and the cultural conditions.
 Biomass Conversion Processes

• These routes are classified in following three categories;

• Thermochemical Conversion: Burn the biomass directly and get the energy
• Biological conversion: ferment the biomass anaerobically to obtain a gaseous
fuel called bio-gas
• Chemical conversion: the biomass is converted into methanol and ethanol to
be used as liquid fuels in engines.
 Biomass-to-Bioenergy Routes
Conversion
Photosynthesis Biomass processes Biofuels and Bioenergy Application

Heating
Heat
Anaerobic
Wet biomass Biogas
(organic waste, manure) fermentation H2, CH4
C6H12O6 + 6O2

Electrical devices
Electricity
Gasification
Fuel gas
Combustion
Solid biomass
(wood, straw) Pyrolysis
Pyrolytic oil
Hydrolysis

co2
Hydrolysis
Sugar and starch plants Ethanol
Sugar Butanol
Extraction
6CO2 + 6H2O

Liquid biofuels
(sugar-cane, cereals)
fermentation

Transport
Crushing
Oil crops and algae Methyl ester
(sunflower, soybean) Refining Pure Oil
(biodiesel)
Transesterification
Thermo-chemical conversion
• Thermal conversion processes use heat as the dominant
mechanism to convert biomass into another chemical
form.

• Thermo chemical processes are most commonly

employed for converting biomass into higher heating
value fuels.

• Major thermal conversion route include direct

combustion to provide heat, liquid fuel and other
elements to generate process heat for thermal and
electricity generation.
Thermo-chemical conversion Process
 Direct Combustion & Incineration
• Direct combustion is the burning of biomass in the presence of oxygen/air,
to produce heat and byproducts.
• Complete combustion to ashes is called incineration.
Biomass + Stoichiometric oxygen → Hot combustion products

• Furnaces and boilers are used typically to produce steam for use in district
heating/cooling systems or to drive turbines to produce electricity.

• In a furnace, biomass burns in a combustion chamber converting the

biomass into heat. The heat is distributed in the form of hot air or water.

• In a boiler, the heat of combustion is converted into steam. Steam can be

used to produce electricity, mechanical energy, or heating and cooling.
Combustion
• Co-firing is the combustion of a fossil-fuel (such as coal or
natural gas) with a biomass feedstock. Co-firing has a number
of advantages, particularly when electricity is an output.
• Biomass can also be used in co-generation, also called
combined heat and power (CHP).
• Co-generation coverts about 85% of biomass’ potential energy
into useful energy.
• When the flammable fuel material is a form of
biomass the oxidation is of predominantly the carbon
(C) and hydrogen (H) in the cellulose, hemicellulose,
lignin, and other molecules present to form carbon
dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O)
Biomass Combustion
• RURAL DOMESTIC: COOKING

• HEAT & STEAM: SMALL SCALE

• ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION:

• COGENERATION / COMBINED CYCLE

Plant Operation: Direct Combustion

• Biomass is organic compounds produced in natural processes.

• These compounds are transported to the biomass plant and burned to heat water.
• Steam is produced at high pressure and it moves a turbine and this moves the
generator to produce electricity
Simple Open Cycle Plant
 Simple Combined Cycle Plant

Water is pumped up to a high pressure, ab. Heat is added from a heat source (a
boiler), bc, to raise the temperature of the water, to convert the water into
steam (the horizontal part of the curve), and finally to superheat the steam.
Conditions for efficient Combustion
• Sufficient air to provide oxygen needed for complete burning;
higher than stoichiometric amount of air is supplied.
• Free and intimate contact between fuel and oxygen by
distribution of air supply.
• Secondary air to burn the volatile mass leaving the fuel bed
completely before it leaves the combustion zone.
• Volatile matter leaving the fuel bed should not cool below
combustion temperature by dilution with the flue gas. Flow
path should assure this.
• Volume of the furnace should be arranged so as to provide for
expansion of gases at high temperature and complete burning
of volatile matter before flowing away.
Biomass Cook stoves
• Biomass stoves burn compressed wood or biomass pellets to
create a source of heat.
• Nearly three-fourths of Indian households use open fires or
chulhas
• 400,000 deaths to children under 5 years of age and 34,000
deaths to women due to chronic respiratory disease. (IAP)
Biomass stoves
• Burn only dry and properly seasoned wood in a stove. Never
burn trash, coal, railroad ties, plastics or wrapping paper.
• Aims to distribute approximately 150 million high efficiency
stoves in the next 15 years.
Improved chulha
• Under the National program for improved chulha
(NPIC), 100 lakhs improved chulha have been
installed all over the Country at the end of 1990-91.

• Saving of wood, environment benefits and woman

welfare, due to the reduction in black smoke.
Improved Chulha
by Philips Design
 Improved Chulha by Philips Design
• Chulha allows people to cook in the traditional way but removes reduces the
amount of fuel required and the risk of injury or death caused by smoke
inhalation.
• It traps smoke and heat inside a locally cast housing in such a way as to heat
two pot-holes with a high rate of efficiency to require less fuel;

• It then directs the smoke through a chimney chamber that includes a stack of
slotted clay tablets – they capture particulates as the smoke moves through,
cleaning the exhaust before it ever leaves the assembly; and

• The Chulha’s chimney then includes an indoor access for cleaning, eliminating
the need seen in previous devices for a family member, usually the mother, to
climb on the roof and attempt cleaning.