Biomass Energy

2 May 2015
Al Jumlat Ahmed
Dept of EEE, CER, UIU
 Sources of Biomass
Biomass: Organic materials derived from
living or recently living organisms.
Sources of Biomass:
Wood: sawdust, wood chips, wood pellets
Agricultural Residue: Rice husk, Corn Stover,
Straw, nut shell, Sugarcane bagasse, Poultry
litter, Cattle manure
Waste: Municipal solid waste, Sewage waste
Energy Crops: Sunflower seed, mustard seed,
soybean, Jatropha
 Biomass Energy
There are four different processes of
harnessing energy from biomass
1. Incineration : complete combustion of
biomass
2. Gasification: partial combustion of biomass
3. Biomass Digestion: Anaerobic digestion
of biomass
4. Biofuel (liquid fuel) : Biochemical
processes i.e. fermentation,
transesterification of biomass Example:
Bioethanol, Biodiesel
 Biomass Digestion
Aerobic Digestion: Break down of
biomass by microorganisms
(bacteria) in the present of air. The
outcome of aerobic digestion is CO2.

Anaerobic Digestion: Break down

of biomass by microorganisms in the
absent of air or oxygen. The outcome
of anaerobic digestion is mainly
methane CH4
 Anaerobic Digestion Process
(Methanation/ Biogas Production Process)
 Temperature Range of Anaerobic
Digestion
Process Name Temperature Temperature Gas
Range Tolerance Production
Psychrophilic Below 20 +/- 2 degree Very Slow
degree C C/hour
Mesophilic 20 to 40 degree +/- 1 degree Slow &
C C/hour Retention time
(Suitable for is longer
area where (20-30 days for
mean liquid cow
temperature in manure )
within 20 28
degree C)
Thermophilic Above 45 +/- 0.5 Higher methane
degree C degree/hour production
(Required
expensive (very sensitive
technology and to change in
high degree of temperature)
process control)
 Factors Effecting the Anaerobic
Digestion Process
1. Temperature : Psychrophilic, Mesophilic and
Thermophilic
2. Available Nutrients: Type of biomass (poultry
litter, cattle manure or MSW)
3. Retention time: Daily flow rate of influent
4. pH Level: Methanogenic Bacteria live best in
neutral to slightly alkaline condition (7- 8.2)
5. C/N Ratio: Nitrogen content in biomass
6. Agitation: Proper mixing of biomass and bacterial
population
7. Inhibitory Factors: Presence of heavy metals like
copper, nickel, zinc, calcium in biomass
Biomass Digester or Biogas plant.
 Classification of Biogas
Plant
Concerning the Concerning the
feed method digester design
Batch Plant method
Continuous Plant Fixed dome Plant
(Suitable for rural Floating drum Plant
household )
Balloon plant
Semi-batch Plant
Available Biogas Plant in Bangladesh is Continuous type
Fixed dome biogas Plant.
The digester is constructed underground since the
temperature of the ground below a depth of one meter is
constant.
Schematic of Fixed Dome Type
Biogas Plant
Fixed Dome Type Biogas Plan
Schematic of Floating Drum Type
Biogas Plant
Floating Drum Type Biogas
Plant
Balloon Type Biogas Plant
Balloon Type Biogas
Plant
Biogas Plant Based Power Plant
 Biomass Gasification
Gasification is a process that converts
biomass into carbon monoxide and
hydrogen at high temperature with a
controlled amount of oxygen.
The resulting gas mixture (CO & H 2) is
called synthesis gas or syngas.
The syngas can be burned directly in
internal combustion engines to
generate electricity.
Classification of Biomass
Gasifier
 Chemical Processes in Different
Zones of a Biomass Gasifier
Zone Chemical Process

Drying Removal of Moisture

Pyrolysis Removal of Volatile Materials

(easily evaporated materials )
Reduction Gasification Process
(Production of Syn Gas)

Combustion Combustion process

(Generate required heat for
gasification )
 Downdraft Biomass Gasifier Based
Power Plant (125 KVA)
Biomass Gasifier Laboratory
Pondicherry Engineering College
Pondicherry, India

Process Diagram of a Biomass

Biomass Gasifier based Power Plant
 Downdraft Gasifier,
Cooler & Wet Scrubber
Gasifier, Cooler & Scrubber Blower Pump

as Checking Point & Security (Mash) Filter

Pebbles Filter & Measuring Instrument
Generator Control Panel
 Gasifier Based Power Plants in
Bangladesh
Biomass: Rice husk
Finance by: IDCOL
Projects:
250 KW in Gazipur
400 kW in Thakurgaon
By products: valuable chemicals such as precipitated silica, calcium
carbonate, activated carbon.
Traditional Cook Stove
 Improved Cook Stove (ICS)
Advantages of Improved Cook Stove
(ICS) over Traditional one:
Reduce smoke emissions (less air pollution)
Good for cook's and children health
Reduce time required to cook
Reduce fuel required to cook (More
efficient)
Reduce attention required to cook
No Too expensive
Portable Types of ICS
 Chimney Based ICS

In Bangladesh, The chimney based ICS is known as Bandhu Chula

initiated by German International Cooperation (GIZ) and IDCOL
Thank You