Housekeeping January 31, 2017

Presentation schedule:
Thur Feb 2nd, 4 groups Denmark, Germany,
Argentina, Holland
Tue Feb 7th, 4 groups Brazil, Australia, Scotland, India
Presentations MAX 15 min + 5 min for questions
Each presentation approx 15-20 slides.
Stimulate questions/discussion
Report (electronic submission) due on Thurs. Feb 2 by 9:00pm
15 pages written (dbl sp. 12 font)
figures, literature cited extra.

1
Lecture 4: Biomass and Energy
generation
Learning Objectives:
-Photosynthesis and energy storage
-Structure and Composition of Lignocellulosic Biomass
-Morphology/Anatomy of plants
-Photosynthetic productivity of plants
- energy generation from biomass
-Higher heating value (HHV)
-Water in biomass
2
Photosynthesis Efficiency &
Biomass Yield

3
Photosynthesis Efficiency (Energy Efficiency)
How much energy is 8 photons of energy
required to fix 1 mole to produce enough
of CO2 (gas) from ATP and NADPH to
atmosphere? fix 1 molecule of CO2
8
photons How much energy is in
8 photons?

6
Photosynthesis Efficiency (Energy Efficiency)
Amount of energy in one photon

e = energy content of one photon, (J)

h = plancks constant, 6.62 X 10-34 J-s
c = velocity of light, 3.00 X 108 m/s
= wavelength of light (nm) (assume 575 nm)

Total Energy from Sun needed to to fix of 1 mole of CO2

=8*[(6.626X10-34)(3.0X108) / (575X10-9)] X (6.023X1023)
=1.67X106 J or 1.67 MJ
7
Photosynthesis Efficiency (Energy Efficiency)
How much energy is contained in 1 mole of
formaldehyde:

H2O + CO2 (CH2O) + O2; G0 = 0.47 MJ

To form simple monosaccharide (methanal

(formaldehyde)

Gibbs free energy represents the chemical energy stored

in the methanal bonds.

8
Photosynthesis Efficiency of Plants - Calculation
Maximum photosynthetic efficiency in producing
biomass is....
= energy out/ energy in

=energy stored in 1 mole of carbohydrate compared to the

energy required from the sun.

=(stored in monosaccharide)0.47 MJ/1.67MJ(from sun)

=28.1%
Plants are at best 28% efficient at converting suns
energy to chemically stored energy.

Boardman, 1980
Photosynthesis Efficiency in Plants
Leaf position on branch, orientation,
Only 45% of the energy canopy position, reflection, etc.
emitted by solar radiation
can be absorbed by
chlorophyll -()
Of this light, a maximum of
80% can be absorbed by
the chloroplasts, which are
subcellular bodies
Some of the carbohydrates
(25-50%)are used up in
sustaining the plants
respiration...leaving 60% to
generate biomass.
Upper limit of
Photosynthetic fixation
Efficiency ~ 5-6% Solar cell 12

efficiency?
Light spectrum and chlorophyll absorbance

13
Photosynthesis Efficiency in Plants
Leaf position on branch, orientation,
Only 45% of the energy canopy position, reflection, etc.
emitted by solar radiation
can be absorbed by
chlorophyll -()
Of this light, a maximum of
80% can be absorbed by
the chloroplasts, which are
subcellular bodies
Some of the carbohydrates
(25-50%)are used up in
sustaining the plants
respiration...leaving 60% to
generate biomass.
Upper limit of
Photosynthetic fixation
Efficiency ~ 5-6% Solar cell 14

efficiency?
Efficiency of C3 and C4 plants to produce carbohydrates
energy
net losses
energy

Zhu, X. et al. 2008 15

C3 Versus C4 plants

16
Productivity of Plants for Biomass Production
Depends on:
1. Efficiency of solar conversion
2. Solar insolation
3. Length of growing period
4. Efficiency of water use (C4 generally produce higher yield for unit)
water

17

Denmead 1969
Biomass Productivity and Solar Capture Efficiency

Actual crop growth in North America and European forests

8-15 t/ha-yr
Min. 2.5-3.5t/ha-yr
0.06% solar energy capture efficiency 19
klass, 1998
Planning for Biomass production
Estimates of Biomass Yield
Theoretical Maximum dry biomass yields can be
calculated based on the amount of solar radiation.
Can be used for large scale predictions of global
biomass
Assume all biomass is cellulose (C6H10O6)
Y = (CIE)/F
Y=yield of dry biomass (t/ha-year),
C = constant 3.1536
I=average insolation (solar radiation received on a given surface) W/m2
E-solar energy capture efficiency (%) (0.1-9.7%)
F=energy content of dry biomass (MJ/kg) (15.5 MJ/kg)

Given USA.average annual amount of solar radiation is 184 W/m2

Calculate range biomass yield in solar capture efficiency (0.1-9.7%)
Y = 3.7 - 363 tonne/ha-year
20
Determining land area required to support power station
Using wood
40 MW wastes available
through thinning
and harvest
residues.

Operating conditions: 350 d/yr @24 h/d

C = capacity of installation (40 MW)
B = Heating value of biomas (dry) 20 MJ/kg
Y = Biomass yield (9 dry tonnes/ha/y)
E = installation conversion efficiency (30%)
FIND: Number of hectares required to
support a 40 MW biomass power
22
plant?
Solution:
1. Calculate the energy input required:

2. Calculate how much biomass energy is

required to support the plant:

23
Solution:
3. Convert biomass input rate into area of land
required using biomass productivity

Solution: 22,400 ha of land is required to meet the

requirements of the 40 MW power station

24
Thermal Generation of energy
from Biomass

26
Thermal Conversion Procss
Wood does not burn!
when biomass is exposed to heat (approx 250-300C)
irreversible chemical change occurs
transformed to liquid & gaseous components

27
 The Phenomena of Wood burning?
Doesnt burn directly.
Under the influence of heat, water
evaporates and pyrolysis begins
(thermally breaks down)
Producing smaller volatile molecules non
(gas) that readily react with oxygen. condensables Condensables
1. Condensable compounds: acids,
aldehydes, alcohols
2. Non-condensable gases: CO, CO2
CH4, H2, other low MW hydrocarbons
3. Tars
Oxidation reactions of gases and
particulates generate heat!
Creates chain reaction as heat from
combustion reaction continues pyrolysis
and production of combustible gases
Flaming combustion is reaction of 28

volatile gases with oxygen.

Glowing Combustion
Pyrolysis creates a highly reactive char (carbon)
residue.
Will react directly with oxygen to form CO2 & H2O

29
Stages of wood fuel combustion
Temperature Stage (occur Description Enthalphy
range simultaneousl
y)
15-1000C Drying - Water diffuses/ endothermic
vapourizes
100-2000C Pyrolysis -breakdown of wood endothermic
into gases, & vapour
-non ignitable gases
200-5000C Combustion of -heat liberating exothermic
evolved gases reactions first occur.
-initially rich in CO2 and
water vapour.
-gradually ignitable
combustible gases
produced to support
flame
>5000C Oxidation of -combustion of charcoal exothermic
carbon at char surface
30
Combustion Process- Complex process

Simultaneous
reactions

Khan et al. 31

2008
Direct Combustion Technologies Moving Grate Boiler

Biomass

32al.,2006
Obernberger et
Energy Value of Fuels and Biomass
Biomass has complex chemical structure
How is energy content of a fuel measured experimentally?
Also called
Higher Heating Value (HHV)
Adiabatic Oxygen Bomb Calorimeter(AOB)

41
Adiabatic Oxygen Bomb Calorimeter(AOB)
Higher Heat Value (HHV) is
Laboratory measurement of stored chemical energy in a
fuel (kJ/g or Btu/lb or cal/g)
also referred to as calorific value
or gross heat value (GHV)

The maximum potential energy in the fuel (usually

reported on Oven dry (od) basis)

the quantitative conversion of C and H in the fuel to water

and CO2, with the reactants and products maintained at
the same reference temperature and pressure.
No loss of sensible or latent heat of vapourization
42
Latent Heat of Vapourization
What is the physical state of the water produced in the
combustion reaction? Water of reaction

C6(H2O)6 + 6O2 ! 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy

Energy is used to convert water to steam in combustion
reaction.
Latent heat of vaporization energy absorbed to change
liquid water to vapour at boiling pt (540 cal/g or 2.26 kJ/g).
However... in AOB calorimeter...H2O vapour condenses to
liquid and gives this energy back to the system.
Therefore HHV represents the maximum amount of
energy potentially recoverable from a fuel source.
In practice the latent heat contained in water vapour cannot
be effectively captured
43
Water of Reaction correction to HHV
Lower Heating Value (LHV) for dry biomass value is
Laboratory measurement of stored chemical energy in a fuel kJ/
g or Btu/lb and assumes the latent heat of vaporization of water in
the reaction products is not recovered.
a meaningful approximation of the useful energy available
What is the deduction for Water of Reaction?
C6H9O4 + O2 CO2 + H2O
1 mole 4.5 moles
gmw 145 18
from the # of moles of H in 1 equivalent unit of wood (1 mole) will form 4.5 moles
of water when combusted in oxygen environment (water of reaction)
EXAMPLE: 1 g of oven dry wood,
# moles of wood = 1g/145 gmw = 0.0069 LHV = HHV latent heat of Vapor.
Where:
# moles of water of reaction = 4.5 * 0.0069 HHV = 16 (MJ/ kgod)
Mass of water of reaction = 4.5 * 0.0069 *18 gmw Latent heat of vap = 1.26 kJ/god
=0.559 g H2O LHV = 16-1.26 = 14.7 (MJ/kgod)
If 1 g water absorbs 2.26 kJ (latent heat of vap.) 44

Energy lost =0 .559 g H2O * 2.26 kJ/g water = 1.26 kJ/g wood
Summary Lower Heat Value for a dry fuel

LHV = HHV latent heat of Vaporization for water of

reaction.

Lower Heat Value for dry biomass can be

approximated by:
LHV = HHV [2.26*0.09*(H)]
Where:
HHV = higher heating value (MJ/ kgod)

H = percent mass composition of H (%)

-from ultimate analysis
LHV = lower heating value (MJ/kgod)
45
Latent Heat of Vapourization = 2.26 kJ/g water
Water of Reaction
Why is water of Consider:
reaction important? Cellulose C6H12O6
Biomass materials
which contain more H Linoleic acid C18H32O2
will produce more
water of reaction and
therefore use more Which produces more
energy to vapourize it. water?

C18H32O2 + 17O2 ! 9CO2 + 16H2O + energy

46
Moisture Content
Why is it important?
1. Affects options for conversion technologies
Dont want to spend more energy to remove the water than
you can obtain from the biomass (combustibility limit).
Enzyme technologies require high moisture conditions

2. Directly affects the energy value per volume or per

mass of the fuel (direct combustion)
Higher amount of heat loss through the exhaust as steam
Transportation cost (What is the value of energy/km, GJ/km)
Unwanted formation of tars and emissions

Solid Water

47
Water (Moisture) in Wood
Forms of Water Fiber Saturation
1. Free Water Point (FSP) is
2. Bound water
the Moisture
Content of the
wood at which all of
the free water is
removed (lumen
are empty)
And the cell walls
are completely
saturated (bound
water).
MCod = 24-28%
http://timber.ce.wsu.edu/Supplements/
Moisture/moisture%20page2.htm MCb is approx 23%
48
Supply Chain Alternatives

49
Moisture Content
Fuelwood/biomass is not received in oven-dry
condition, In 100 g Fresh Wood
60g water & 40 g wood

Solid Water

contains energy contains NO energy

1. The moisture content (MCwet) of the fuel on a wet

basis would be
m H 2O
MCwet = X 100%
mwet
where mwet = mH 2O + mod
2. The moisture content (Mcod) of the fuel on an oven
dry basis would be:
mH 2O
MCod = X 100% 50

mod
Example question
EXAMPLE: A 10 kg sample of wood is found to
have a MCwet of 64%. What is the mass of oven
dry wood available?
Calculate the MCod ?

MCwet= mwater/(mwater + mod)

64%=mwater/10kg
mwater=6.4 kg, mod=10-6.4 = 3.6 kg

MCod= mwater/(mod)
=177%
51
Comparison of MC wet/dry bases
Moisture Content (wet Moisture Content (dry
basis )% basis )%
0 0
5 5
10 11
15 18
20 25
30 43
40 67
5-0 100
60 150

MCwet%=[MCdry%/(MCdry%+100)] X 100
52
Effect of Moisture Content on Energy Value
Influence of Moisture on Energy Content for
Direct Combustion
Practical heating value (GJ/tonne) called Lower heating
Value

LHV = HHV - (L w + L hv )
Lw=energy loss due to mass (weight) of water in fuel
Lhv=energy loss due to vaporization of water that leaves in
vapour state
-includes water of reaction and cell water

53
Influence of Moisture in biomass on Energy Content

LHV =(1 - MCwet )[HHVdry (MCdry + 9H)]

where:
LHV = lower heat value at any moisture content
HHV = higher heat content of dry fuel (zero moisture
content)
= latent heat of vaporization of water (2.31 MJ/kg at 25C)
MCwet = moisture content of fuel on a wet basis (expressed
as a fraction)
MCdry = moisture content of fuel on a dry basis (expressed
as a fraction)
H = mass fraction of hydrogen in dry fuel (expressed as a
fraction) 54
Practical Energy Requirements to Remove Water
Energy required to remove
water from biomass:
Q1=(1-(MCwet/100)(100-Tw)(Cwood)(mw)
1. Heat wood substance to
Where: Cwood= 0.8 kJ/kgoC
100oC
2. Heat the water in wood to
Q2=(MCwet/100)(100-Tw)(Cwater)(mw)
100oC
Where: Cwater= 4.2 kJ/kg oC
3. Latent heat of
vapourization at 100oC Q3=(MCwet/100)(Hv)(mw)
4. Desorption of bound water Where: Hv =2.26 MJ/kg
in wood.
Q4=(MCb/100)(Hwet)(mw)
Cwood is the heat capacity = Where: MCb 23%
energy required to raise a unit
mass of wood by one degree Tw = original temp. of wood
Celsius mw= mass of wood (g)
Hwet - Heat of wetting (energy MCb = Moisture content of
required to free bound water) = bound water only
2.4-35.8 kJ/kg
55
Moisture Content of Biomass as received
Category Type MC (%)
Waste Cattle manure 20-70
Primary 90-98
biosolids
sawdust 15-60
herbaceous Switchgrass 30-70
rice straw 5-15
Aquatic G. Brown kelp 85-97
Woody Poplar 30-60
Why the big
Pine heartwood 23 difference
Pine sapwood 52
Softwood avg 46
Hardwood avg 30
Coal Bituminous coal 5-10 56
Lower or Net Heating Value at various MCs
the Net Heating Value of biomass at various levels of
moisture content.
Takes into account dry matter and heat of vapourization for
MC.
By MCwb of 80% much of the energy of the biomass is
used to evaporate water.
Practical limit of combustibility is MCwb= 67%
Fuel can not sustain itself (energy losses are too high)

MJ/kg

57
Moisture Costs/Issues at lndustry scale
Large scale industrial applications
1. the more water, the lower the heating value
2. the more water, the larger the boiler, increased
capital
Costly requirement for pre-dryer
3. automated systems difficult to maintain with
variable moisture content
4. transportation of water is costly
5. Combustibility limits

58
Summary ....Recoverable Heat in Industry
Sources of heat loss
1. Heat used to raise the temp of the water in wood to boiling point.
2. Heat required to separate the bound water
3. Heat required to vapourize water of reaction
4. Heat required to vapourize free and bound water
5. Heat required to raise the temp of vapourized water to temperature of
exhaust gases
6. Heating of excess air that is used in furnace
7. Heat required to raise the temperature of the wood to combustion
temperature
8. Other conductive/radiation/convection and incomplete combustion

RH (recoverable heat) = HHV (H1 + H2 + H3......+H8)

CE (combustion efficiency ) = (RH/HHV) *100%
Rule of thumb for woody fuels CE = 80% (for dry fuels) to
60% for wet fuels
Why important?
Scenario: A sawmill wants to change over from its oil burning boiler to
a wood burning boiler to provide the steam it needs for its lumber
drying. Consider the following feedstocks.
-How many trucks/ day are required to feed a 1000 hp
boiler.
assume boiler has 65% conversion efficiency
1 BHP is Equivalent to 9809.5 joule/s
Truck load is 40 m3

Wood Fuel MC Heating Bulk Mass Volume

(wet) Value, (LHV) Density required (m3/hr)
% (GJ/T) (kg/m3) (T/hr)
Whole-tree 50 9.3 384
chips
Green 50 9.3 320
sawdust
Dry planer 13 16.2 96
shavings
Dry sawdust 13 16.2 184
60
Industrial 10 16.7 561
wood pellets
Industrial significance
Commercial steam boilers
Function:
To provide a source of stored energy remote from the
fuel source.
Works by:
Heating water to boiling point and producing steam
Uses:
Space heating, industrial heat for drying/evaporation,
power generation, sterilization, etc.

http://
Fire-tube Water-tubetransport/engines-equipment/
science.howstuffworks.com/

steam2.htm
Example Continued....
Boiler horse power BHP
The amount of energy required to produce 34.5 lbs of
steam/hr (at 0 Psig and 1000C)
1 BHP is Equivalent to 33445 BTU/hr or 9809.5 joule/s
Solve:
1. Calculate Energy Required for steam production
2. Calculate Mass of each type of biomass required
Use LHV (can ignore latent heat of vaporization
correction)
3. Calculate Volume of each type of biomass
required (use density)
4. Calculate # of Trucks required
62
Example Continued....
Boiler horse power BHP
1 BHP is Equivalent to 9809.5 joule/s
1. Calculate Energy Required for steam production
1000 HP X 9809.5 J/s = 9.809 MJ/s
But boiler efficiency is 65%
=9.809 MJ/s X 1/0.65
=15.09 MJ/s OR 54.33 GJ/h
54.3 GJ/h of biomass energy is required to sustain
the 1000 HP boiler

63
Wood Fuel MC Heating Bulk Mass Volume # trucks
(wet) Value, (LHV) Density required (m3/hr)
% (GJ/T) (kg/m3) (T/hr)

Whole- 50 9.3 384 5.84 15.2 10

tree chips
Green 50 9.3 320 5.84 18.3 11
sawdust
Dry planer 13 16.2 96 3.35 34.9 21
shavings

Dry 13 16.2 184 3.35 18.2 11

sawdust
Industrial 10 16.7 561 3.25 5.79 4
wood
pellets
Wood Energy Required for 1 day of operation
=54.33 GJ/ H of energy required 64

- Truck can carry 40 m3

Considerations for high moisture
A high moisture The moisture content
content adversely of raw biomass can
affects: be reduced by:
the collection leaving biomass in the
storage field to dry for several
pre-processing weeks
storing biomass,
handling
sheltered from
transportation precipitation
All added costs industrial driers

65
Implications of Biomass Choice
What are other implications ie.costs / C-
emission that might be considered?
Fuel from # of trucks
Extra handling by front end loader
Cost of land for storage
Design size of feed /handling equipment
etc

66
Biochemical Processes water requirements
Biogas (CH4) & CO2
Anaerobic digester
utilizes fats (72%
methane) & proteins
(64% methane)

Digester Influent Type of feed

Type solids (%)

Covered 0.1-2 Flushed dairy

Lagoon and hog
manure, dairy
product

Complete mix 2.0-10 Variety of

wastes

Plug flow 11-20 Coarse 67

ruminant waste
79