THERMOCHEMICAL CONVERSION OF BIOMASS

Agricultural Engineering College & Research Institute Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Coimbatore

Dr. P. Venkatachalam

What is Biomass..?
Recent organic matter originally derived from
plants as a result of the photosynthetic conversion process , or from animals , and which is destined to be utlized as a store of chemical energy to provide heat, electricity, or transport fuels.

Biomass Conversions

What is Thermochemical Conversion

Thermal Cracking of biomass through chemical reaction to produce Energy

Types of Thermochemical Conversion

Combustion (Excess) Gasication (Controlled/limited) Pyrolysis (Absence)

What is Combustion ?
Combustion
Combustion is an exothermic chemical reaction accompanied by large heat generation and luminescence, and is a phenomenon in which the reaction is spontaneously continued by the heat generated by the reaction. When using biomass as fuel, the heat-generating oxidation reaction, where carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, combustible sulfur, and nitrogen contained in biomass react with air or oxygen, is known as combustion, industrially.

Combustion methods
Fixed$ bed combustion Moving$ bed combustion Fluidized bed combustion Rotary hearth furnace combustion Burner combustion

Fixed bed combustion

Combustion type
Horizontal/Inclined grate Water-cooling grate Dumping grate

Features
Grate is level or sloping. Ignites and burns as surface combustion of biomass supplied to grate. Used in small-scale batch furnace for biomass containing little ash.

Moving bed combustion

Combustion type Forward moving grate Reverse moving grate Step grate Louver grate

Features
Grate moves gradually and is divided into combustion zone and after-combustion zone. Due to continuous ash discharge, grate load is large. The combustion obstruction caused by ash can be avoided. Can be applied to wide range of fuels from chip type to block type.

10

Fluidized bed combustion

Combustion type Bubbling$ uidized bed combustion Circulation uidized bed combustion Features Uses sand for bed material, keeps fuel and sand in furnace in boiling state with high-pressure combustion air, and burns through thermal storage and heat transmission eect of sand. Suitable for high moisture fuel or low grade fuel.

11

Rotary hearth furnace combustion

Combustion type Kiln furnace Features Used for combustion of high moisture fuel such as liquid organic sludge and food residue, or large waste etc. Restricted to fuel size on its uidity

12

Burner combustion
Combustion type Burner Features Burns wood powder and ne powder such as bagasse pith by burners, same as that for liquid fuel.

13

14

Biomass stoves (thermal eciency more than 20%)

Thermal eciency improved single pot chula

15

16

Combustion system for turmeric boiling

17

What is Gasication?
The process to convert biomass solid raw material into fuel gas or chemical feedstock gas (syngas) is called gasication or thermochemical gasication.

18

Gasication Process

19

Stages of Gasication
20

Classication of gasication method

Gasication pressure Normal pressure (0.1-0.12 MPa), High pressure (0.5-2.5 MPa) Gasication temperature Low temperature (700oC and below), High temperature (700 oC and above), High temperature decomposition (ash fusion point and above)

21

Classication of gasication method Contd..

Gasication agent Air, oxygen, steam and combination of them, carbon dioxide for particular time Heating (Temperature zone formation) Direct gasication (heat generation from reaction of partial gasication raw material and oxygen) Indirect gasication (heating raw material and gasication agent by external heat)

22

Gasier types
Fixed bed Flow bed Circulating ow bed Entrained bed Mixing bed Rotary kiln Twin tower Molten furnace

23

Biomass Gasier Types

Updraught Gasier

Downdraught Gasier

Cross-draught Gasier

24

Utilisation of Producer Gas

25

Thermal Gasier

26

Wood Based Down Draft Gasier

27

Twin Drum Gasier

28

Bagasse Based Gasier

29

Fluidised Bed Gasier

30

Natural Updraft Gasier

31

Gasier in eld trial

32

Issues in Gasication
Producer gas has a high percentage of non-combustible constituents: Low caloric value (4200 kJ/kg, compared to 45000 kJ/kg of LPG) Hydrogen has high caloric value: increase in H2 content improves gas quality High temperature of reaction zone allows tar cracking: if gas gets heated to 1200oC, its tar contents are minimal (Tar is a product of pyrolysis, and escapes unburned at lower temperatures. In gas it is in vapour phase, and condenses into sticky matter at lower temperatures. Tar is thus injurious to engines, gas turbines) Biomass harvesting, compaction/chopping processes precede gasication: Fuel preparation

33

Applications of Gasication
Thermal applications
Furnaces that need cleaner combustion products: Glazed pottery ring/Metal Melting Community Cooking, Crematoriums, Drying, etc.

Shaft / Electric Power Applications

Small, medium power installations (5-500 kWe) using reciprocating engines Large Power Installations (MW range) using gas turbines, reciprocating engines Used typically for captive power generation, water pumping Field example: Taragram, Orchha, near Jhansi

Engine types:
Dual Fuel: Producer Gas with pilot Diesel for ignition Single Fuel: 100% producer gas, spark ignition engine

Derating of engines:
Lower air intake owing to space occupied by gas in cylinder Lower caloric value as compared to fossil fuels Derating of producer gas engines: 25-40%

34

What is Pyrolysis?
Pyrolysis is a thermochemical process through which ligncellulosic materials (biomass) can be converted to solid char,liquid tar and gaseous fuel products. This process is characterized by the use of temperatures generally below 600 degree Celsius and the absence of oxygen.

35

Pyrolitic Reactor

36

Pyrolysis unit

37

Any Que#es...?

!ank y"

38