Biomass Energy Conversion

1. Biomass Energy Conversion Unit 10 Source:

2. Use Policy • This material was developed by Timothy J. Wilhelm, P.E., Kankakee Community College, with funding from the National Science Foundation as part of ATE Grant No. 0802786. • All materials in this presentation are designed and intended for educational use, only. They may not be used for any publication or commercial purposes. Source:

3. Author, Editors/Reviewers • Author: Timothy J. Wilhelm, P.E., Kankakee Community College • Editors/Reviewers Modifiers: • Chris Miller Heartland Community College Source:

4. Objectives • Students will be able to describe, in very simple terms, the difference between fossilized carbon and short-cycle carbon, and the impact each has on the atmosphere when used as a fuel resource. • Students will be able to describe and discuss, in simple terms, biomass energy conversion via direct combustion. Source:

5. Objectives • Students will be able to describe and discuss, in simple terms, biomass energy conversion via direct expulsion or extraction. • Students will be able to describe and discuss, in simple terms, biomass energy conversion via pyrolytic decomposition. • Students will be able to describe and discuss, in simple terms, biomass energy conversion via microbial decomposition. Source:

6. “Carbon Footprint” • All plant, microbe, insect, and animal (including human) life is carbon-based. Carbon-based or carbon-related energy conversions are the basis of sustaining all life on our planet. • The primary fuel that sustains nearly all life forms is sugar. Sugar is a carbon-based fuel. • We cannot eliminate carbon-based energy conversions, nor is it necessary…

7. “Carbon Footprint” • What we want to avoid is energy conversions involving “fossilized carbon.” • “Fossilized carbon” is the excess carbon from Earth’s ancient atmosphere that is now sequestered in the crust of the earth. • When we use fossilized carbon as a fuel resource we recreate our ancient atmosphere. • When we carefully use “short-cycle carbon” as a fuel resource we do not impact the carbon balance in the atmosphere. • “Short-cycle carbon” is stored in biomass.

9. What is “Biomass?” • Renewable organic materials, such as • wood, • wild grasses and other wild plant material, • agricultural crops or wastes, • municipal wastes, • algae, • Etc.

10. What is Biomass Energy Conversion? • Direct combustion of biomass, • Extraction of convenient fuel commodities from biomass, • Capture of convenient fuel commodities from biomass microbial-decomposition, • Capture of convenient fuel commodities from biomass pyrolytic-decomposition.

11. Direct Combustion of Biomass

12. Direct Combustion of Biomass • FIRE! • Requires appropriate biomass-fuel, ignition-heat, and oxygen. • Used primarily when and where heat is immediately needed. • Space heating • Food preparation/cooking • Other “process” heating

13. Direct-combustion EvolutionWood burning – open fire

14. Direct-combustion EvolutionWood burning – open fire, indoors

15. Direct-combustion EvolutionWood burning – open fireplace

16. Direct-combustion EvolutionWood burning – Franklin Stove

17. Direct-combustion EvolutionWood burning – Heatilator Firebox

18. Direct-combustion EvolutionWood burning – Catalytic Combustion Source: http://www.decorativeheating.co.uk/acatalog/defiantwood_s.jpg

19. Direct-combustion EvolutionPellet burning stoves Source: http://www.opcaoverde.com.br/residuosflorestais/pellet2.jpg Source: http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/158971_med.gif?01AD=3IuMzNGLBdVCVTFwU9V2DUPq6RjG0HtNCapqZOSGVR65zcGQ41bVErw&01RI=6C08107379E4ADE&01NA=

20. Direct-combustion EvolutionCorn burning stoves

21. Finland’s Wood-Fired Central Heating Plants Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Location_of_Tampere_in_Finland.png/200px-Location_of_Tampere_in_Finland.png

22. Finland’s Wood-Fired Central Heating Plants

25. Finland’s Wood-Fired Central Heating Plants

26. Finland’s Wood-Fired Central Heating Plants Forestry is a major industry in Finland. This results in massive amounts of “waste” biomass.

27. Finland’s Wood-Fired Central Heating Plants Forestry is a major industry in Finland. This results in massive amounts of “waste” biomass.

28. Finland’s Wood-Fired Central Heating Plants Steam/Hot Water is piped to homes and businesses all over the district. Source: http://www.bioenergie-promotion.fr/wp-content/gallery/image-du-jour/thumbs/thumbs_la-chaufferie-biomasse-alholmens-kraft-a-pietarsaari-en-finlandela-plus-importante-du-monde-avec-550-mwth-consomme-annuellement-lequivalent-de-15-million-de-m3-de-bois.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/2005-08-30-district-heating-pipeline.jpg/200px-2005-08-30-district-heating-pipeline.jpg

29. Expelling and Extracting Seed Oils

30. Source: http://cocheseco.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/biodiesel.jpg

31. Source: http://www.bionomicfuel.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/who-are-major-industry-players-in-making-biofuel_1.jpg

32. Expressing or expelling seed oils • Commonly referred to as “bio-diesel.” • Can be “thinned,” and made less viscous to directly replace #2 diesel oil in combustion-ignition engines. • Can be waste vegetable oil, filtered and burned straight. • Can be PPO (Pure Plant Oil) burned straight. • “Un-thinned” oil requires mist-injection or specially designed engines.

33. Oil expelled via expeller presses

34. Oil extracted via solvent extraction Source: http://image.made-in-china.com/2f1j00jvmErtfKsaqT/Vegetable-Oil-Solvent-Extraction.jpg

35. Waste Vegetable Oil – Must be filtered Source: http://www.greasecar.com/article.cfm?aid=19&pn=8

36. Bio-diesel = transesterficationby-product = crude glycerol (glycerine)YUCK!

37. Pyrolytic Decomposition

41. Pyrolysis • Pyrolysis is heating organic material in an absence of oxygen. • This drives off volatile gasses and leaves behind “char” material. • The volatile gasses will immediately burn as a vaporous fuel. • The solid char material can be stored and used as a solid fuel, later.

42. The Nazis’ Dilemma Source: http://wizbangpop.com/images/2009/11/Nazi_Volkswagen-thumb.jpg

44. The Nazis’ Solution – “Producer Gas”

45. Wood Gasification Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Gaz-42.jpg

46. Reviving an OldTechnology Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/Wood_gasifier_on_epa_tractor.jpg/300px-Wood_gasifier_on_epa_tractor.jpg

47. Reviving an OldTechnology Source: http://redferret.theredferret.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/beaverenergywoodpoweredcar_small2.jpg Source: http://static.newworldencyclopedia.org/thumb/7/71/99woodgas.jpg/350px-99woodgas.jpg

48. Microbial DecompositionAnaerobic Bacterial Digestion

49. Source: http://www.moonbattery.com/archives/farting-cow.jpg

50. Methane Production • CH4 – the main constituent of “Natural Gas” • Methane digestion is a 2-step process • Acid-forming bacteria break down organic matter creating simple acids: acetic (vinegar), butyric, formic, and propionic. • Methane-forming bacteria make “bio-gas:” methane, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, CO2 , and water vapor. • Bio-gas burns!