Chapter 4:

BIOMASS AND BIOFUELS

Renewable Energy Sources and

Management

“This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only
of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein”
Content
Definitions
Biomass
Biomass utilization
Bioethanol
Biodiesel
Gasification
 Group working

• What is biomass? Give a example

• What is bioenergy? Give a example

 Bioenergy Definitions

Bioenergy: Energy derived from biomass

Biomass: Mass of plant material formed

from solar energy, water, and air; any
organic material that is renewable

060316
 Bioenergy Cycle

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http://www.repp.org/bioenergy/bioenergy-cycle-med2.jpg
 Bioenergy Cycle

6
Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)
 Carbon Cycle

7
Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)
From Sakoda, JICA JST project
From Sakoda, JICA JST project
From Sakoda, JICA JST project
 Biomass Resources

• Energy Crops
– Woody crops
– Agricultural crops
• Waste Products
– Wood residues
– Temperate crop wastes
– Tropical crop wastes
– Animal wastes
– Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
– Commercial and industrial wastes

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http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/bio_resources.html
Type of Biomass
 Corn

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http://www.geo.msu.edu/geo333/corn.html
 Soybeans

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http://agproducts.unl.edu/
 Sorghum

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http://www.okfarmbureau.org/press_pass/galleries/grainSorghum/
 Sugar Cane Bagasse

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http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/photos.html
 Switchgrass

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http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/photos.html
 Hybrid Poplar

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http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/photos.html
 Corn Stover

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http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/photos.html
 Wood Chips & Sawdust

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http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/photos.html http://www.energytrust.org/RR/bio/
 Municipal Solid Waste

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http://www.eeingeorgia.org/eic/images/landfill.jpg
 Biomass resources
Animal manure

Coconut shell

Fuel wood
Sugar can bagasses

Rice husk

Rice straw
 Energy from Biomass

“This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only
of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein”
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 Bioenergy Technologies

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Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)
 Biomass Direct Combustion

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Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)
 Heat Energy Content

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Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)
 MSW Power Plant

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Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)
 Composition of MSW

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Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)
 Integrated Waste Plant

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Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)
 EU MSW Incineration

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Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)
 Landfill Gasses

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Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)
 Biorefinery

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http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/biorefinery.html
 Sugar Platform

1. Convert biomass to sugar or other

fermentation feedstock
2. Ferment biomass intermediates using
biocatalysts
• Microorganisms including yeast and bacteria;
3. Process fermentation product
• Yield fuel-grade ethanol and other fuels,
chemicals, heat and/or electricity

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http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/proj_biochemical_conversion.html
 Thermochemical Platform

• Direct Combustion
• Gasification
• Pyrolysis

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http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/thermochemical_platform.html
 Gasification

• Biomass heated with no oxygen

• Gasifies to mixture of CO and H2
– Called “Syngas” for synthetic gas
• Mixes easily with oxygen
• Burned in turbines to generate electricity
– Like natural gas
• Can easily be converted to other fuels,
chemicals, and valuable materials
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 Biomass Gasifier
• 200 tons of wood
chips daily
• Forest thinnings;
wood pallets
• Converted to gas at
~1850 ºF
• Combined cycle gas
turbine
• 8MW power output McNeil Generating Station
biomass gasifier – 8MW

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http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/photos.html
 Pyrolysis

• Heat bio-material under pressure

– 500-1300 ºC (900-2400 ºF)
– 50-150 atmospheres
– Carefully controlled air supply
• Up to 75% of biomass converted to liquid
• Tested for use in engines, turbines,
boilers
• Currently experimental

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http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/pyrolysis.html
 Pyrolysis Schmatic

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http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/pyrolysis.html
 Anaerobic Digestion
• Decompose biomass with microorganisms
– Closed tanks known as anaerobic digesters
– Produces methane (natural gas) and CO2
• Methane-rich biogas can be used as fuel
or as a base chemical for biobased
products.
• Used in animal feedlots, and elsewhere

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http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/other_platforms.html
 Carbon Rich Platform

• Natural plant oils such as soybean, corn, palm, and

canola oils
– In wide use today for food and chemical applications
• Transesterification of vegetable oil or animal fat
produces fatty acid methyl ester
– Commonly known as biodiesel.
• Biodiesel an important commercial air-emission
reducing additive / substitute for diesel fuel
– could be platform chemical for biorefineries.

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http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/other_platforms.html
 BioFuels
• Ethanol
– Created by fermentation of starches/sugars
– US capacity of 1.8 billion gals/yr (2005)
– Active research on cellulosic fermentation
• Biodiesel
– Organic oils combined with alcohols
– Creates ethyl or methyl esters
• SynGas Biofuels
– Syngas (H2 & CO) converted to methanol, or
liquid fuel similar to diesel
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http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/bio_fuels.html
 Biodiesel Bus

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http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/photos.html
 Plant Products Platform

• Selective breeding and genetic engineering

• Develop plant strains that produce greater
amounts of desirable feedstocks or chemicals
• Even compounds that the plant does not
naturally produce
• Get the biorefining done in the biological
plant rather than the industrial plant.

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http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/other_platforms.html
 Biomass Economics

“This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only
of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein”
44
 Economic Issues

• Sustainable Development
– Move toward sustainable energy production
• Energy Security
– Reduce dependence on imported oil
• Rural Economic Growth
– Provide new crops/markets for rural business
• Land Use
– Better balance of land use

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http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/bio_integrated.html
 Landfill Gas Costs

46
Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)
 Switchgrass Econ
Total
Variable Total Fixed Ethanol
Tons Per Cost Per Cost Per Total Cost Min Price
Acre Acre Acre Per Acre per Gallon

2 $131.00 $66.50 $197.50 $2.47

3 $87.33 $44.33 $131.67 $1.65

4 $65.50 $33.25 $98.75 $1.23
5 $52.40 $26.60 $79.00 $0.99
6 $43.67 $22.17 $65.83 $0.82
7 $37.43 $19.00 $56.43 $0.71
8 $32.75 $16.63 $49.38 $0.62
9 $29.11 $14.78 $43.89 $0.55
10 $26.20 $13.30 $39.50 $0.49
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http://www.agecon.uga.edu/~caed/Pubs/switchgrass.html
 Environmental Impacts

“This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only
of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein”
48
 Environmental Issues
• Air Quality
– Reduce NOx and SO2 emissions
• Global Climate Change
– Low/no net increase in CO2
• Soil Conservation
– Soil erosion control, nutrient retention,
carbon sequestration, and stabilization of
riverbanks.
• Water Conservation
– Better retention of water in watersheds
• Biodiversity and Habitat
– Positive and negative changes 49
http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/bio_integrated.html
 Heat and CO2 Content

50
Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)
 Net Life Cycle Emissions

51
Boyle, Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press (2004)
 Crop Erosion Rates

SRWC = Short Rotation Woody Crops

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Michael Totten, Conservation International, January 27, 2006
 Biocide Requirements

Short Rotation
Woody Crops
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Michael Totten, Conservation International, January 27, 2006
 Promise of Bioenergy

“This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only
of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein”
54
 Biomass Infrastructure

• Biomass Production Improvements

– Genetics, breeding, remote sensing, GIS, analytic
and evaluation techniques
• Biomass Material Handling
– Storage, handling, conveying, size reduction,
cleaning, drying, feeding systems, systems
• Biomass Logistics and Infrastructure
– Harvesting, collecting, storing, transporting, other
biomass supply chain elements

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http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/bio_resources.html
 Benefits of Bioenergy
Multiple benefits would accrue:
• Rural American farmers
producing these fuel crops
would see $5 billion of
increased profits per year.
• Consumers would see future
pump savings of $20 billion
per year on fuel costs.
• Society would see CO2
emissions reduced by 6.2
billion tons per year, equal to
80% of U.S. transportation-
related CO2 emissions in
2002.

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www.bioproducts-bioenergy.gov/pdfs/NRDC-Growing-Energy-Final.3.pdf.
Biomass Energy for Sustainability

Source: Sakoda, JICA JST project

Bioethanol process at HCMUT Pilot Plant

Puffing machine
350kg/h
Multipurpose
fermentation tank (800 L)
Alkaline
Puffing SSF
Pretreatment
(Multi –step
loading )
Tray column
Byproducts 100L/batch
from Distillation-1
Paddy fields (Crude)
Packed column
100L/batch
Distillation-2
(Purification)
Heat recovery
Boiler
Biomass Boiler Ethanol
(Evaporation of Boiler : 60-100kg/h)
Upgrade and utilization of biogas

Biogas for cooking Electric generator

H2S removal research PSA adsorption research

Carbonization/gasification system
 Overview of bioenergy: biomass
and biofuels
• Homework