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Biofuel and Green Biotechnology

This document provides an overview of a course on biofuel and green biotechnology. The course is divided into 5 modules that cover topics like biomass sources and processing, biogas technology, bioethanol and biodiesel production, pyrolysis and gasification of biomass, and combustion of biomass and cogeneration systems. The last module discusses combustion of woody biomass, cogeneration in biomass industries, and using biogases for cogeneration. Cogeneration involves generating heat and power simultaneously from the same fuel source. The document outlines different cogeneration technologies and classifications of cogeneration systems.

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60 views

Biofuel and Green Biotechnology

This document provides an overview of a course on biofuel and green biotechnology. The course is divided into 5 modules that cover topics like biomass sources and processing, biogas technology, bioethanol and biodiesel production, pyrolysis and gasification of biomass, and combustion of biomass and cogeneration systems. The last module discusses combustion of woody biomass, cogeneration in biomass industries, and using biogases for cogeneration. Cogeneration involves generating heat and power simultaneously from the same fuel source. The document outlines different cogeneration technologies and classifications of cogeneration systems.

Uploaded by

navneet
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BIOFUEL AND GREEN BIOTECHNOLOGY

Course Code: BTE2509 Credit Units: 03

Module I: Biomass Sources, Characteristics & Preparation:


 Biomass Sources and Classification-Chemical composition and properties of different biomass
materials
 Bio-fuels – Sugar cane molasses for fermentation of ethanol;
 Sources and processing of oils and fats for liquid fuels
 Energy plantations - Preparation of woody biomass
 Drying, Storage and Handling of Biomass.

Module II: Biogas Technology-


 Biodegradable organic matter
 Feedstock for biogas production,
 Operating parameters for biogas production,
 Dry and wet fermentation

Module III: Bio-Ethanol and Bio-Diesel Technology-


 Production of Fuel Ethanol by Fermentation of Sugars.
 Trans-esterification of Oils to Produce Bio-Diesel.

Module IV: Pyrolysis and Gasification of Biomass


 Thermo-chemical conversion of Ligno-cellulose biomass - Pyrolysis of biomass
 Thermo-chemical gasification principles

Module V: Combustion of Biomass and Cogeneration Systems-


 Combustion of Woody Biomass,
 Cogeneration in Biomass Processing Industries.
 Use of biogases for cogeneration.

Examination Scheme:
Components CT Attendance Assignment/ EE
Project/Seminar/Quiz
Weightage (%) 15 5 10 70
Text & References:
 Biotechnology and Alternative Technologies for Utilization of Biomass or Agricultural Wastes, A. Chakravarthy,
Oxford & IBH publishing Co., New Delhi, 1989.
 Biogas Systems: Principles and Applications, K.M. Mital, New Age International Publishers (p) Ltd., 1996.
 Biomass Energy Systems, P. Venkata Ramana and S.N. Srinivas, Tata Energy Research Institute, New Delhi,
1996.
 Fuels from Biomass and Wastes, D.L. Klass and G.M. Emert, Ann Arbor Science publ. Inc. Michigan, 1985.
 Bio-gas Technology, Khandelwal K.C. and Mahdi, Tata McGraw-Hill pub. Co. Ltd., New Delhi
 Advances in bio-gas Technology, O.P. Chawla, I.C.A.R., New Delhi. 1970.
5 Combustion of Biomass and Cogeneration Systems
Combustion of Woody Biomass

Combustion is a reaction of a fuel with oxygen in air to release heat. This process is used every day in
households for heating and cooking and in industries for generating heat or steam. Combustion accounts
for 85 percent of our world’s energy usage and is vital to our current way of life. Combustion is a complex
interaction of physical and chemical processes.
Good fuels for combustion are materials rich in hydrogen and carbon, called hydrocarbons. Such fuels
include natural gas, coal, diesel, gasoline, propane, wood, agricultural residues and municipal solid
waste. Ideally, all hydrogen and carbon would split off and combine with the oxygen in the air to create
water vapor, carbon dioxide and heat. Below is the generalized formula for a combustion reaction:

Fuel + Oxygen  Carbon Dioxide + Water Vapor + Heat

Since biomass fuels are primarily composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, the main products from
burning biomass are carbon dioxide and water. Flame temperatures can exceed 2000°C, depending on
the heating value and moisture content of the fuel, the amount of air used to burn the fuel and the
construction of the furnace.
Combustion has three requirements – fuel, air and heat. If any of these three are removed, burning stops.
When all three are available in the correct proportion, combustion is self-sustaining, because the fuel
releases excess heat to initiate further burning.
Complete combustion of biomass requires a certain amount of air. Air consists of 21 percent oxygen and
about 79 percent nitrogen. Therefore, the product of a stoichiometric combustion of biomass in air will
include carbon dioxide, water vapor and nitrogen. This reaction will generate heat. The stoichiometric
equation for the combustion of biomass is given as follows:

Biomass + Air  Carbon Dioxide + Water Vapor + Nitrogen + Heat

What Is the Combustion Mechanism?


For solid biomass to be converted into useful heat energy, it has to undergo combustion. Although there
are many different combustion systems available, the principle of biomass combustion is essentially the
same for each. There are three main stages to the combustion process-
1. Drying – All biomass contains moisture, and this moisture has to be driven off before combustion
can take place. The heat for drying is supplied by radiation from flames and from the stored heat
in the body of the combustion unit.
2. Pyrolysis – When the temperature of the dry biomass reaches between 200ºC and 350ºC, the
volatile gases are released. Pyrolysis products include carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide
(CO2), methane (CH4) and high molecular weight compounds (tar) that condense to a liquid if
cooled. These gases mix with oxygen from the air and burn producing a yellow flame. This
process is self-sustaining as the heat from the burning gases is used to dry the fresh fuel and
release further volatile gases. Oxygen has to be provided to sustain this part of the combustion
process. Char is the remaining material after all the volatiles have been burned off.
3. Oxidation – At about 800ºC, the char oxidizes or burns. Again oxygen is required, both at the fire
bed for the oxidation of the carbon and, secondly, above the fire bed where it mixes with carbon
monoxide to form carbon dioxide that is given off to the atmosphere. Long residence time for fuel
in a combustor allows the fuel to be completely consumed. It is worth bearing in mind that all the
above stages can occur within a fire at the same time.
Combustion is complete when 100 percent of the energy in the fuel has been extracted. It is important to
strive for complete combustion to preserve fuel and improve the cost efficiency of the combustion
process. There must be enough air in the combustion chamber for complete combustion to occur. The
addition of excess air greatly lowers the formation of carbon monoxide (CO) by allowing CO to react with
O2. More complete combustion will result in less CO in the flue gas.
Cogeneration

Cogeneration – ‘generating together’ – refers to the process wherein we obtain both heat and electricity
from the same fuel at the same time. The process is also referred to as CHP, short for combined heat and
power. A variety of fuels can be used for cogeneration including bagasse, natural gas, coal, and biomass.
A cogeneration plant consists of four basic elements: a prime mover, an electricity generator, a heat
extraction or recovery unit, and a control panel.
Fuel is burnt in the system or prime mover to convert its chemical energy into heat energy, which, in turn,
produces the mechanical energy to run a generator and ultimately produce electricity. Prime movers for
CHP systems include steam turbines, gas turbines, reciprocating engines, micro-turbines, and fuel cells.
The heat energy from the system is also used directly, as heat, or indirectly to produce steam, hot water,
and hot air, thus making it a CHP or cogeneration system.

1. Cogeneration technologies
Different types of cogeneration technologies are used depending upon the end use or purpose. Some
commonly used cogeneration technologies are:
 Steam Turbines
 Gas Turbines
 Reciprocating Engines

Advantages and Disadvantages

Types of Cogeneration Advantages Disadvantages


Systems
Back Pressure Steam Turbine  Simple configuration  Low electrical efficiency
 Low capital cost  Low part-load performance
 High cogeneration efficiency  Limited flexibility in design and
operation
Extraction-Condensing Steam  Flexible in design and  Cost intensive
Turbine operation
Gas Turbine  Good fuel efficiency  High fuel cost
 Relatively low investment cost  Poor efficiency at low loads
per unit of electric output  Longer operation
 Short gestation period  High maintenance cost
 Low emissions
 High flexibility in operation
Reciprocating Engine  Low civil construction cost due  Low overall efficiency
Cogeneration System to block foundations and least  Availability of low temperature
number of auxiliaries steam
 High power efficiency  Highly maintenance prone
 Better suited as a standby
power source

2. Classification of cogeneration systems


Based on priority in utilizing the available energy, electricity or heat, cogeneration systems are classified
as topping cycle (where priority is for generating electricity) and bottoming cycle (where heat takes priority
over electricity).
A. Topping cycle: The topping cycle is the most commonly used method of cogeneration. In this
cycle, fuel is used first for producing electricity and then for heat. Steam turbine topping cycles
are commonly used in the pulp and paper industry; heat recovery and combined cycle systems
are used in many chemical plants; and gas turbine cycles are useful in central heating or cooling
systems.
B. Bottoming cycle: In a bottoming cycle, fuel is first used to produce thermal energy, and the heat
rejected from the process is used for generating power through a heat-recovery boiler and a
turbine generator. Bottoming cycles are suitable for manufacturing processes in which heat is
rejected in large amounts and at high temperatures, typically in cement, steel, ceramic, gas, and
petrochemical industries. Bottoming cycle plants are much less common than topping cycle
plants.

3. Applications

A. Industrial applications of cogeneration are found mainly in sugar factories, food processing plants,
pharmaceuticals, oil refineries, textile mills, and steel, cement, glass, and ceramics plants, which
require both heat and electricity in substantial amounts.
B. Residential, commercial, and institutional applications tend to be found in smaller systems, often
based on ‘packaged’ units. These systems are commonly used in hotels, leisure centres, offices,
smaller hospitals, and residential complexes. Larger applications are based on a technology similar to
the cogeneration systems used in industry, gas turbines, or larger reciprocating engines. Such
systems are used in large hospitals, large office complexes, universities, and colleges.
C. District heating systems are used at airports, office and commercial buildings, and large housing
complexes. The heat provided by cogeneration is ideal for space heating and for providing hot water
for domestic, commercial, or industrial use. A feature of cogeneration-driven district heating systems
is the option to use a variety of fuels to suit environmental, economic, or strategic priorities.

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