MEng/PG Dip in Energy Technology 2010/2011

ME5026 Bio-Energy

SECTION 5
BIOMASS CONVERSION
TECHNOLOGIES
- AN OVERVIEW -
AGT Sugathapala
Thermo-Fluids & Energy Group
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Moratuwa

December 2011
 INTRODUCTION
 Direct combustion of raw biomass is the simplest
method of extracting energy with lowest cost
– Therefore is the most common method of conversion.
– However, such a use emphasizes the worst features of
biomass - bulk and inconvenience.

 Therefore, before bio-energy is used for end-use

activities, it may have to be converted from its
primary form into a form that is more convenient
for transport and use.
– This may involve simple physical processing before
combustion or upgrading to a variety of convenient
secondary fuels (solid, liquid or gas) by means of
certain conversion processes.
 INTRODUCTION
 Methods of utilizing biomass as a source of
energy

Biomass Heat
Resources Direct Combustion /
Gasification

Conversion
Processes Biomass Electricity
Generator
Fuels
Heat
Engines
Intermediate Mechanical
Fuels Power
 CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES
 Different processes and technologies are
available for converting biomass to energy.
 Could be categorized as:
– Direct combustion of the raw biomass
– Combustion after relatively simple physical
processing,
 sorting, chipping, compressing, air-drying (benificiation)
– Thermochemical processing to upgrade the biofuel
 Processes in this category include pyrolysis (carbonization,
destructive distillation & fast pyrolysis), gasification or
liquefaction;
– Biological processing.
 Natural processes such as anaerobic digestion and
fermentation encouraged by the provision of suitable
conditions leading to a useful secondary fuel (gaseous or
liquid).
 CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES
 However, straightforward conversion of thermal
energy into mechanical or electric power results
in considerable losses
– The fuels are used as they are found or after some
form of processing such as size reduction, drying,
compaction (densification) and carbonization, etc.

 Combustion of biomass has been widely used in

the past to generate heat
– At present, it is making a comeback in many industrial
applications including generation of electricity,
– This can range from simple systems such as stoves,
kilns and furnaces to more advanced systems like
fluidized bed combustion technology.
 CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES
 Straightforward conversion of thermal energy
into mechanical or electric power results in
considerable losses
– It is not possible to raise the ratio of thermal to
mechanical power above 60%.

 However, if the low temperature waste heat can

be used productively, for instance for drying or
heating purposes, much higher overall
efficiencies can be obtained.
 DENSIFICATION
 Densification (briquetting or pelleting) is used to
improve characteristics of materials (especially
low density biomass)
– Productive transport,
– Improved fuel characteristics.

 Raw materials used for include sawdust, loose

crop residues, and charcoal fines.
 The material is compacted under pressure
– Depending on the material, the pressure, and the
speed of densification, additional binders may be
needed to bind the material
 DENSIFICATION
 There are two main briquetting technologies
– Piston press
– Screw press.

 In the piston press the material is punched into a

die by a ram with a high pressure.
 In the screw press, the material is compacted
continuously by a screw.
 With the screw generally briquettes of higher
quality can be produced.
THERMOCHEMICAL CONVERSION
 In thermochemical conversion, biomass is
subjected to appropriate temperatures and
pressures and normally a restricted supply of
oxygen
 Pyrolysis is the basic thermochemical process to
convert biomass into more valuable or more
convenient products
– In fact, it is the oldest method of processing one fuel
in order produce better one

 Conventional pyrolysis involves heating the

original material in the near-absence of air,
typically at 300 - 500C, until the volatile matters
has been driven off.
THERMOCHEMICAL CONVERSION
 The residue is then the char (more commonly
known as charcoal)
– Char has about twice the energy density of the
original fuel and burns at a much higher temperature

 For many centuries, and in much of the world still

today, charcoal is produced by pyrolysis of
wood.
– Depending on the moisture content and the efficiency
of process, 4 - 10 kg of wood are required to produce
one kg of charcoal
THERMOCHEMICAL CONVERSION
 With more sophisticated pyrolysis techniques,
the volatile matters can be collected, and careful
choice of the temperature at which the process
takes place allows the control of their
composition
– The products formed are normally a gas, an oil-like
liquid and charcoal.
– The distribution of these products is dependent on the
feedstock, temperature and pressure of reaction, the
time spent in the reaction zone and the heating rate.
– High temperature pyrolysis (1000C) maximizes the
production of gas (gasification) while lower
temperature pyrolysis processes (<600C) have been
used for the production of charcoal (carbonization).
THERMOCHEMICAL CONVERSION
 With more sophisticated pyrolysis techniques,
the volatile matters can be collected
– Careful choice of the temperature at which the
process takes place allows the control of the
composition.
– The products formed are normally a gas, an oil-like
liquid and charcoal
– The distribution of these products is dependent on the
feedstock, temperature and pressure of reaction, the
time spent in the reaction zone and the heating rate.
– High temperature pyrolysis (1000C) maximizes the
production of gas (gasification) while lower
temperature pyrolysis processes (<600C) have been
used for the production of charcoal (carbonization).
– Another approach to produce liquid fuels and
chemicals from biomass is direct catalytic liquefaction
 BIOLOGICAL CONVERSION
 Biological conversion consists of exposing
biomass to certain microorganisms.
 The secondary fuels produced are the result of
metabolic activity of the microorganisms.
 Production of Ethanol and biogas are the two
most common biological conversion processes.
 Ethanol fermentation from carbohydrates is
probably one of the oldest processes known to
man.
– Today, it is widely regarded as an important potential
alternative source of liquid fuels for the transport
sector.
BIOMASS ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
 Resource-Technology-Application Options

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BIOMASS ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
 Direct Combustion

15
BIOMASS ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
 Gasification

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BIOMASS ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
 Densification
 Bales, Briquettes, Pellets

Feedstock

Briquette

Hydraulic or
mechanical
piston drive
Nozzle Piston

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BIOMASS ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
 Bio-Fuels
 Biogas, Bio-Diesel, Ethanol

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