Energy from Biomass

Laboratory training


























General information and introduction

Hochschule Bremerhaven, WS 2013/2014

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dieter Lompe





Seite 1
Content page
1 General aspects 2
2 General task 2
2.1 Introduction 2
2.2 Group tasks 2
Literature 5






Seite 2
1 General aspects
This laboratory training is part of the module Energy from Biomass and consists of 2 SWS.
Because of long term experiments cannot be realized within 2 hours per week, groups of 2 to
4 students are responsible for each experiment in order to be flexible to maintain experi-
ments continuously if that is necessary during the experimental phase.
At the end of the semester a written report has to be handed in where the contribution of
each individual student of each group is declared and each chapter is written by only one
student.
The report should meet the requirements of scientific publications in engineering, in particular
regarding literature use and citation (see: How to do a technical report or Hinweise fr Ab-
schlussarbeiten).

2 General task
2.1 Introduction
In order to reduce the influence of energetic use of biomass on food supply non-food bio-
mass should be prefered for energy conversion processes. High temperature processes like
incineration or gasification often are not appropriate for small scale installations while biologi-
cal processes do not convert all organic material. In particular lingo-cellulose needs some
disintegration as pretreatment if it should be convertet e.g. to biogas. On the other hand
straw, rice shells and other agricultural waste containing lingo-cellulose has a high potential
for decentralized energy supply in rural areas, even in low industrialized countries or regions.
In this laboratory training experiments should be designed, set up, and carried out to deter-
mine the influence of different pre-treatment on biogas production from straw.
2.2 Group tasks
As pre-treatment of straw for the groups should be used:
cutting down to particles of 1 to 2 cm
milling down to particles of 0.5 to 1 mm
thermal treatment in water at 100 to 120 C
chemical treatment with acid




Seite 3
On the basis of a literature review, the given introduction, and available laboratory equipment
the details of pre-treatment and digestion should be calculated and designed (see. e.g. VDI
2006).
Practical laboratory work consists of
setting up reactors including gas measurement,
check on even small leaks
pre-treatment of straw
operation of digestion experiment
analysis and measurements
evaluation of results
Basic design of a continously operated full scale plant on the basis of literature and ex-
perimental data. Groups are free to choose the size of the plant as long as reasons
are given that it is a realistic size.
The report should consist of
introduction
critical rewiev regarding results from literature
description of material and methods
description of experiments
results
basic engineering calculations for a continuously operated process
conclusion
appendices.
All groupmembers are responsible that the workload is shared equally. Also workload for the
report has to be shared equally. In the case of difficulties supervisors have to be informed
early.
Until end of October the desing for the laboratory batch process as well as literature review
regarding pretreatment has to be handed in and presented. Experiments has to be started at
the beginning of November and should be finished until Christmas break.




Seite 4
During the experimental phase groupmembers are responsible to organize dayly measure-
ment of gasproduction as well as dayly maintenance if necessary. For discussion of results
and / or problems participation in the weekly meeting is a duty for all participants.
Without participation in the introduction and the safety introduction a participation in the ex-
perimental phase is not possible.





Seite 5

Literature

VDI 2006 Verein Deutscher Ingenieure (VDI) (Hrsg.): Fermentation of organic ma-
terials, VDI-Method 4630. Beuth Verlag, Berlin 2006