This document provides a syllabus for a course on non-conventional energy systems. It includes 7 modules, with the biomass module covering 3 hours. The biomass module covers topics like biomass combustion and fermentation, anaerobic digesters, wood gasifiers, pyrolysis, and biomass applications. The document also provides learning objectives, sample questions, and details on total course hours.
Electrifying Indian Villages by Using Straight Jatropha Vegetable Oil as Fuel...ZY8
The document summarizes a study that assesses the environmental sustainability of a pilot jatropha-based rural electrification project in Ranidhera, India through a life cycle assessment. The study compares the environmental performance of generating electricity from straight jatropha oil to diesel, photovoltaic, and grid-connected systems. Key findings include that the jatropha-based system reduces greenhouse gas emissions over its life cycle by a factor of 7 compared to diesel or grid electricity. However, additional measures could improve oil extraction efficiency and overall system performance. Environmental benefits only occur if jatropha is grown on marginal lands and does not compete for agricultural lands.
The document discusses distributed generation in India using renewable energy resources. It outlines India's progress in electricity generation capacity overall and the growing role of distributed generation. Key points:
1) India has rapidly increased total electricity generation capacity but renewable sources still only contribute around 12%, with a goal to increase this.
2) Distributed generation using renewable resources like solar, wind, hydro, and biomass can help meet demand and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
3) The government has implemented programs to promote solar, wind, hydro, and biomass power through incentives, subsidies and research. However, more can still be done to increase renewable distributed generation in India.
Appropriate Distributed Generation Technology for Electrifying the Village ZX7
This document is a research paper presented by Namsil Kim to obtain a Master's degree in Development Studies with a specialization in Environment and Sustainable Development. The paper examines when distributed generation technologies can effectively contribute to electrifying remote villages. It analyzes three village electrification case studies from Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka that utilize solar PV, biomass gasifiers, and hybrid solar/wind systems. The document assesses these distributed generation technologies based on their affordability, the institutional capacity to support them, and their replicability in other villages.
This document analyzes different dissemination models for solar lanterns in India, including a central charging station model. Currently, about 68 million rural Indian households rely on kerosene for lighting, but solar lanterns provide a safer and higher quality alternative. The paper compares ownership and fee-for-service models, and evaluates the viability of a central charging station model based on acceptable daily rental costs to users and owners. It also estimates the subsidy required to make such a model viable for distributing solar lanterns more widely among rural households.
Unification of ETP & MFC: Sustainable Development, Environmental Safety, & Re...Abdullah Al Moinee
This document summarizes a presentation given at the 58th IEB Convention in Khulna, Bangladesh on March 5, 2018. The presentation proposed unifying an effluent treatment plant (ETP) and microbial fuel cell (MFC) to achieve sustainable development, environmental safety, and renewable energy generation. Experiments showed an MFC can treat wastewater and remove heavy metals while generating electricity. The proposal aims to integrate an MFC system into the collection tank of an ETP to biologically treat effluent and produce electricity simultaneously. This unified system could provide renewable energy while protecting the environment and recovering valuable metals in a cost-effective way.
Harnessing Energy from Algae - TERI Energy Security Insights 2011Sumiit Mathur
Microalgae have potential as a sustainable source of biofuels like biodiesel. They can be farmed and their biomass contains oils and carbohydrates that can be converted to fuels through fermentation or thermal processes. Recent research has shown that microalgae cultivated in wastewater or stressed conditions can accumulate high levels of lipids and oils, making them promising for commercial biofuel production. Large-scale microalgae farming uses open ponds or closed photobioreactor systems, and companies are researching the most efficient processes to commercially produce biofuels from algal oils.
Life Cycle Energy Analysis of a Traditional Building in India (A Case Study)IJERA Editor
Some of the major environmental concerns of our time are the depletion of the ozone layer, the wastage of limited resources such as oil, gas and minerals, the loss of forested areas, toxic chemical manufacture and emissions, the obliteration of natural practice with the effluence of land, water and air. The environmental crisis has made us focus our attention on the impact buildings will have on the environment. Hence we need to be aware of the possibilities of saving energy by designing buildings according to vernacular architecture, which normally involves informal building compositions during the method of traditional building with local associates in addition to locally available materials. This paper discusses the consequence of material assortment and construction scheme with respect to its energy incurred throughout its existing sequence (Unrefined fabric acquisition, product manufacture & transportation, construction, operation and maintenance, renovation and demolition). It is all mainly related to the multi-faceted nature of environmental sustainable design.
Energy and the Sustainable Development AgendaGlobal Utmaning
The document discusses sustainable development goals for energy access, efficiency, and low carbon energy supply for a post-2015 agenda. It proposes goals for increasing renewable energy shares, reducing costs of low carbon technologies, boosting annual investments in energy access, and improving efficiency in buildings and economic sectors. The goals would contribute to outcomes like behavioral changes and investments, and ultimately impact sustainable development through economic, environmental and social changes.
Electrifying Indian Villages by Using Straight Jatropha Vegetable Oil as Fuel...ZY8
The document summarizes a study that assesses the environmental sustainability of a pilot jatropha-based rural electrification project in Ranidhera, India through a life cycle assessment. The study compares the environmental performance of generating electricity from straight jatropha oil to diesel, photovoltaic, and grid-connected systems. Key findings include that the jatropha-based system reduces greenhouse gas emissions over its life cycle by a factor of 7 compared to diesel or grid electricity. However, additional measures could improve oil extraction efficiency and overall system performance. Environmental benefits only occur if jatropha is grown on marginal lands and does not compete for agricultural lands.
The document discusses distributed generation in India using renewable energy resources. It outlines India's progress in electricity generation capacity overall and the growing role of distributed generation. Key points:
1) India has rapidly increased total electricity generation capacity but renewable sources still only contribute around 12%, with a goal to increase this.
2) Distributed generation using renewable resources like solar, wind, hydro, and biomass can help meet demand and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
3) The government has implemented programs to promote solar, wind, hydro, and biomass power through incentives, subsidies and research. However, more can still be done to increase renewable distributed generation in India.
Appropriate Distributed Generation Technology for Electrifying the Village ZX7
This document is a research paper presented by Namsil Kim to obtain a Master's degree in Development Studies with a specialization in Environment and Sustainable Development. The paper examines when distributed generation technologies can effectively contribute to electrifying remote villages. It analyzes three village electrification case studies from Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka that utilize solar PV, biomass gasifiers, and hybrid solar/wind systems. The document assesses these distributed generation technologies based on their affordability, the institutional capacity to support them, and their replicability in other villages.
This document analyzes different dissemination models for solar lanterns in India, including a central charging station model. Currently, about 68 million rural Indian households rely on kerosene for lighting, but solar lanterns provide a safer and higher quality alternative. The paper compares ownership and fee-for-service models, and evaluates the viability of a central charging station model based on acceptable daily rental costs to users and owners. It also estimates the subsidy required to make such a model viable for distributing solar lanterns more widely among rural households.
Unification of ETP & MFC: Sustainable Development, Environmental Safety, & Re...Abdullah Al Moinee
This document summarizes a presentation given at the 58th IEB Convention in Khulna, Bangladesh on March 5, 2018. The presentation proposed unifying an effluent treatment plant (ETP) and microbial fuel cell (MFC) to achieve sustainable development, environmental safety, and renewable energy generation. Experiments showed an MFC can treat wastewater and remove heavy metals while generating electricity. The proposal aims to integrate an MFC system into the collection tank of an ETP to biologically treat effluent and produce electricity simultaneously. This unified system could provide renewable energy while protecting the environment and recovering valuable metals in a cost-effective way.
Harnessing Energy from Algae - TERI Energy Security Insights 2011Sumiit Mathur
Microalgae have potential as a sustainable source of biofuels like biodiesel. They can be farmed and their biomass contains oils and carbohydrates that can be converted to fuels through fermentation or thermal processes. Recent research has shown that microalgae cultivated in wastewater or stressed conditions can accumulate high levels of lipids and oils, making them promising for commercial biofuel production. Large-scale microalgae farming uses open ponds or closed photobioreactor systems, and companies are researching the most efficient processes to commercially produce biofuels from algal oils.
Life Cycle Energy Analysis of a Traditional Building in India (A Case Study)IJERA Editor
Some of the major environmental concerns of our time are the depletion of the ozone layer, the wastage of limited resources such as oil, gas and minerals, the loss of forested areas, toxic chemical manufacture and emissions, the obliteration of natural practice with the effluence of land, water and air. The environmental crisis has made us focus our attention on the impact buildings will have on the environment. Hence we need to be aware of the possibilities of saving energy by designing buildings according to vernacular architecture, which normally involves informal building compositions during the method of traditional building with local associates in addition to locally available materials. This paper discusses the consequence of material assortment and construction scheme with respect to its energy incurred throughout its existing sequence (Unrefined fabric acquisition, product manufacture & transportation, construction, operation and maintenance, renovation and demolition). It is all mainly related to the multi-faceted nature of environmental sustainable design.
Energy and the Sustainable Development AgendaGlobal Utmaning
The document discusses sustainable development goals for energy access, efficiency, and low carbon energy supply for a post-2015 agenda. It proposes goals for increasing renewable energy shares, reducing costs of low carbon technologies, boosting annual investments in energy access, and improving efficiency in buildings and economic sectors. The goals would contribute to outcomes like behavioral changes and investments, and ultimately impact sustainable development through economic, environmental and social changes.
Small Scale Electricity Generation From Simultaneous Burning Of Straight Vege...adoniaanastas
This document discusses using straight vegetable oil and syngas produced from biomass gasification to generate electricity in small, isolated communities in Brazil. Two plant oils were tested (from Orbignya sp. and Acrocomia aculeata) in a 12.5 kW diesel generator. Straight vegetable oil was injected into the engine while syngas from gasifying the plant endocarp was also burned. Experimental results showed stable operation and up to 80% substitution of vegetable oil with syngas. Emissions were lower for NOx but higher for CO and UHC compared to diesel. Smoke emissions were comparable between fossil diesel and vegetable oil with syngas. The system provides a renewable option for reliable, low-
This document provides an overview of biomass as a renewable energy source in India. It discusses the chemical composition of biomass, categories of biomass materials, key challenges and priorities for developing a bio-based economy in India. It also summarizes India's current power production scenario including projected biomass demand, barriers to accelerated biomass power development, relevant policies and regulatory frameworks, and government incentives for biomass power projects. The document aims to analyze the economics of renewable energy source biomass and its potential role in India's power sector.
International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications (IJERA) is an open access online peer reviewed international journal that publishes research and review articles in the fields of Computer Science, Neural Networks, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Plastic Engineering, Food Technology, Textile Engineering, Nano Technology & science, Power Electronics, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Computational mathematics, Image processing, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Environmental Engineering, VLSI Testing & Low Power VLSI Design etc.
This document discusses the potential for renewable energy and the need for transitioning to more sustainable energy systems. It notes that while the share of renewable energy is still small globally, costs for some renewables are getting competitive with existing energy sources. The technical potential for renewable energy is enormous. Realizing a clean energy future will require overcoming challenges through innovation, integration of renewables at larger scales, and increased adoption of technologies.
Optimal Allocation of Rural Energy Resources Using Goal Programming -A Case S...IDES Editor
The optimal allocation of rural energy resources to
various energy end users is an important aspect for bridging
the energy supply and demand gap in India. It has been
observed that allocation should be channelized by multiple
criteria. In this paper a multi objective programming model
for such an allocation process is presented. A standard model
has been applied for rural sector of Malnad region of Shimoga
District, Karnataka state. The data used for the analysis is
obtained from detailed survey of various energy resources
and demands of Hosur Village. The optimization of energy
resources has been done by Goal Programming method. The
integrated energy plan for selected village is prepared for
100% coverage basis, covering geographic and demographic
characteristics, economic activities and general living
condition of the people and present energy consumption
pattern. Data is used for optimization of rural energy sources
using goal programming taking three objectives into account
i.e. minimization of cost, maximization of use of locally
available resources and minimization of use of external
energy sources. For achieving this, linear programming model
is prepared initially and then its feasibility is checked. Since
it is a multi-objective programming, QM (Quantitative
Analysis for Management) for Windows has been used for
solving the goal programming. The goal programming model
is prepared and results obtained have been compared with the
present energy consumption pattern. The results of the model
indicate that the use of agro waste and firewood should be
promoted for heating and cooking respectively.
Performance evaluation of improved cook stove (chulha) by using local availab...ASSAM UNIVERSITY
This document presents research on evaluating the performance of an improved cook stove (chulha) using locally available biomass fuels. It begins with introductions to renewable energy usage in India and Assam as well as a description of traditional chulhas. The objectives, literature review, materials and methods, and results/discussion sections are then outlined. The research analyzed properties of different biomass fuels, tested improved chulha performance via water boiling and cooking tests, and evaluated cost economics. Key findings from literature include improved chulhas having higher thermal efficiencies and lower fuel consumption compared to traditional designs.
Biodiesel Cogeneration Project Waste Heat Recovery System for Biodiesel Elect...ZX7
This document provides a final design report for a biodiesel cogeneration project at Messiah College. It includes an abstract, introduction describing the project goals and needs analysis, design details for the cogeneration system and its electrical and heat recovery components, construction and testing plans, budget and schedule. The project aims to develop a renewable, residential-scale cogeneration system using biodiesel to power a generator and recover waste heat for domestic hot water and space heating needs.
Hyderabad | Sep-16 | Sustainable biofuels from large scale algal culture by u...Smart Villages
This document discusses using bioprocess technology to produce sustainable biofuels from large-scale algal culture. Specifically, it experimentally proves that combining plug flow reactors with airlift fermenters on a large scale can sustainably generate biofuels by harvesting light with algae. This process allows for continuous fermentation, biomass separation with only sparging required, and generates algal biomass in self-sustaining airlift fermenters. Algae are also efficient producers of oil and biomass and have higher photosynthetic efficiency and growth rates than plants. The document concludes that microalgae have much higher biofuel yields than other feedstocks and can use non-arable land, making them a promising
Single-atom catalysts for biomass-derived drop-in chemicalsPawan Kumar
Conversion of biomass to fuel and drop-in chemicals is envisaged to solve the problem of depleting fossil fuel reserves while leveling-off the staggering CO2 concentration. By-passing the natural carbon cycle via the transformation of abundant lignocellulosic biomass into chemicals does not add any extra CO2 to the environment and the net CO2 concentration remains the same. The paradigm shifts from fossil fuel-based chemicals to biomass-derived products will rely on efficient and cost-effective catalysts that can compete with cheap and readily available fossil fuels. Existing transition and noble metal-based nanoparticle catalysts either in the supported or unsupported form are crippling due to poor activity/selectivity, deactivation of catalytically active sites, and the complex composition, recalcitrant nature, and high moisture content of biomass. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) possessing single-atom centers decorated on support have shown great promise in biomass conversion due to their unique geometric configuration, electronic properties, and ensemble effect. In contrast to traditional catalytic systems, SACs encompass the advantages of both heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts with improved performance and easy recyclability. Because of the availability of each metal center for the reaction and unique geometrical configuration, SACs have displayed exceptional catalytic activity and selectivity (~95% in most cases). In addition, the SACs show increased thermal and chemical stability due to the stabilization of the metal center on the support. The present chapter highlights the various aspects of SACs for efficient and selective biomass conversion into drop-in chemicals.
Algal Biorefinery for Electrical Power OutputAlena Senf, EIT
This document proposes designing an algal biorefinery system to produce electricity for a home. It would involve growing algae in photobioreactor panels, filtering out the algae, drying it, and using combustion to generate steam and power a turbine to produce electricity. The goals are to optimize algal growth, design a home-compatible system, and produce electricity. Key considerations are costs, space needs, maintenance requirements, and energy inputs/outputs. Literature is reviewed on algal growth equations and production methods. A conceptual design is presented involving the photobioreactor, filtration, drying, and power generation components.
This document reviews the potential for using waste-derived bioenergy in marine systems. It discusses how biomass energy from waste can help address sustainability challenges while offsetting greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels. The document also examines trends in biomass development, including the growth of biofuels markets and potential applications for shipping. A process is proposed for meeting biomass demands that involves energy auditing, risk analysis, and a system to collect organic waste, ferment it to produce methane gas, and use the gas in a cogenerator.
The Growing Importance of Biomass in Biodiesel Production QZ1
This document discusses biomass as an energy source and focuses on biodiesel production from algae. It provides background on biomass energy and discusses some challenges with traditional biomass usage. The objectives are outlined as moving to modern biomass energy technologies to provide a renewable and sustainable fuel source. Details are given on biodiesel production processes from algae and some potential advantages are noted, such as high oil yield per acre compared to other crops. Methods for algae cultivation and oil extraction are summarized. The conclusion states that algae show potential as a bioenergy source due to using carbon dioxide and sunlight to produce biomass.
This document describes the design of a standalone hybrid biomass and photovoltaic (PV) power system for an off-grid house in a remote area. It discusses using Homer software to simulate and optimize the system design. The system combines a PV array, battery bank, biomass generator, charge controller and DC/AC converter to meet the household's electricity needs. Simulation results can help improve hybrid system designs for providing power in remote, off-grid locations.
This document discusses the design of an off-grid home energy system using solar, wind, and biomass energy sources. It first provides background on the need for renewable energy systems in remote areas. It then describes the components of the hybrid system, including photovoltaic panels, a wind turbine, and a biomass generator. The document outlines how Homer software was used to simulate and optimize different configurations to determine the most cost-effective system. The simulation analyzed factors like solar radiation levels, wind speeds, and biomass availability to predict the hybrid system's performance.
The document summarizes a seminar presentation on biomass energy. It discusses various methods of extracting energy from biomass, including direct combustion, gasification, pyrolysis, digestion, and fermentation. Advantages of biomass energy include being renewable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. Disadvantages include the high cost of construction and transportation challenges. The document also provides historical context on biomass use in India and discusses applications of biomass energy from residential to industrial use. In conclusion, biomass energy is identified as a renewable and non-polluting alternative energy source available in large quantities.
This document provides an overview of a presentation on biomass energy given by several presenters to a professor. It outlines different methods for extracting energy from biomass, including direct combustion, gasification, pyrolysis, digestion, and fermentation. It discusses the advantages of biomass energy being renewable, sustainable, and less polluting than fossil fuels. The document also provides context on the history of biomass use in India and how policy has aimed to address rural energy crises and reduce oil imports. Applications of biomass energy include residential heating/cooking, industrial uses, and electricity generation.
Extraction of Bio-Fuel from Algae by Anaerobic DigestionEditor IJMTER
The growing energy demand across the globe has instigated us to synthesize bio-fuel
from algae, a renewable resource. Algae Botryococcus braunii when subjected to anaerobic digestion
and broken down by enzymes liberate methane and CO2. The CO2 obtained is cultivated in open
ponds and are passed through a fluidised bed chamber after pre-treatment. The chamber contains
enzymes which breakdown the algal colloid into fatty acids. These fatty acids on decomposition
release CO2 that is internally cycled for algal cultivation and the methane can be profitably and
cleanly extracted. This methane can be used as a fuel in vehicles (CNG) and also in various industrial
and domestic fields, providing a low-cost solution to the global energy crisis.
This document provides an overview of renewable energy sources and focuses on biomass and biogas. It discusses the principles of biomass conversion including combustion, pyrolysis, and gasification. Combustion is the process of burning biomass to produce heat or power. Pyrolysis involves the thermal decomposition of biomass in an inert atmosphere to produce char, gases, and oils. Gasification converts biomass into a gaseous fuel called producer gas using a limited amount of oxygen. Biogas is produced through the anaerobic digestion of organic matter like animal waste or plant biomatter and provides advantages like fuel production and organic fertilizer. However, intermittency and low energy density pose challenges for renewable sources.
An Alternative Fuel by Blending of Non Woody Biomass and Coal for Use in Powe...IRJET Journal
This document discusses blending non-woody biomass and coal for use in power generation. It analyzes the proximate analysis and energy values of different biomass components like wood, leaves, and branches mixed with coal in various ratios. The objectives are to determine the optimal ratio for maximum power generation potential and minimum land requirement. The experiment analyzes the results and discusses blending biomass and coal as an alternative fuel for power plants. This could help address issues of energy crisis, waste management, and pollution while providing rural employment and distributed power sources.
Biomass Power For Energy and Sustainable DevelopmentZX7
This document discusses biomass as a renewable energy resource for sustainable development. It provides an overview of biomass categories and potential as an energy source in different world regions and Europe. Biomass can be used to produce heat, electricity, and liquid fuels through various conversion technologies. While biomass is a sustainable resource, factors like population growth and food demand influence its availability. International agreements have promoted greater use of biomass and other renewable resources.
This document outlines modules for a course on renewable power generation systems. Module I introduces conventional and non-conventional energy sources, and discusses solar energy technologies like solar thermal and photovoltaic systems. Module II covers wind energy and wind turbines. Module III discusses biomass power and biogas. Module IV examines hybrid energy systems that combine technologies like solar-wind and micro-hydel PV systems. The document provides an overview of the topics that will be covered in each module.
Small Scale Electricity Generation From Simultaneous Burning Of Straight Vege...adoniaanastas
This document discusses using straight vegetable oil and syngas produced from biomass gasification to generate electricity in small, isolated communities in Brazil. Two plant oils were tested (from Orbignya sp. and Acrocomia aculeata) in a 12.5 kW diesel generator. Straight vegetable oil was injected into the engine while syngas from gasifying the plant endocarp was also burned. Experimental results showed stable operation and up to 80% substitution of vegetable oil with syngas. Emissions were lower for NOx but higher for CO and UHC compared to diesel. Smoke emissions were comparable between fossil diesel and vegetable oil with syngas. The system provides a renewable option for reliable, low-
This document provides an overview of biomass as a renewable energy source in India. It discusses the chemical composition of biomass, categories of biomass materials, key challenges and priorities for developing a bio-based economy in India. It also summarizes India's current power production scenario including projected biomass demand, barriers to accelerated biomass power development, relevant policies and regulatory frameworks, and government incentives for biomass power projects. The document aims to analyze the economics of renewable energy source biomass and its potential role in India's power sector.
International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications (IJERA) is an open access online peer reviewed international journal that publishes research and review articles in the fields of Computer Science, Neural Networks, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Plastic Engineering, Food Technology, Textile Engineering, Nano Technology & science, Power Electronics, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Computational mathematics, Image processing, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Environmental Engineering, VLSI Testing & Low Power VLSI Design etc.
This document discusses the potential for renewable energy and the need for transitioning to more sustainable energy systems. It notes that while the share of renewable energy is still small globally, costs for some renewables are getting competitive with existing energy sources. The technical potential for renewable energy is enormous. Realizing a clean energy future will require overcoming challenges through innovation, integration of renewables at larger scales, and increased adoption of technologies.
Optimal Allocation of Rural Energy Resources Using Goal Programming -A Case S...IDES Editor
The optimal allocation of rural energy resources to
various energy end users is an important aspect for bridging
the energy supply and demand gap in India. It has been
observed that allocation should be channelized by multiple
criteria. In this paper a multi objective programming model
for such an allocation process is presented. A standard model
has been applied for rural sector of Malnad region of Shimoga
District, Karnataka state. The data used for the analysis is
obtained from detailed survey of various energy resources
and demands of Hosur Village. The optimization of energy
resources has been done by Goal Programming method. The
integrated energy plan for selected village is prepared for
100% coverage basis, covering geographic and demographic
characteristics, economic activities and general living
condition of the people and present energy consumption
pattern. Data is used for optimization of rural energy sources
using goal programming taking three objectives into account
i.e. minimization of cost, maximization of use of locally
available resources and minimization of use of external
energy sources. For achieving this, linear programming model
is prepared initially and then its feasibility is checked. Since
it is a multi-objective programming, QM (Quantitative
Analysis for Management) for Windows has been used for
solving the goal programming. The goal programming model
is prepared and results obtained have been compared with the
present energy consumption pattern. The results of the model
indicate that the use of agro waste and firewood should be
promoted for heating and cooking respectively.
Performance evaluation of improved cook stove (chulha) by using local availab...ASSAM UNIVERSITY
This document presents research on evaluating the performance of an improved cook stove (chulha) using locally available biomass fuels. It begins with introductions to renewable energy usage in India and Assam as well as a description of traditional chulhas. The objectives, literature review, materials and methods, and results/discussion sections are then outlined. The research analyzed properties of different biomass fuels, tested improved chulha performance via water boiling and cooking tests, and evaluated cost economics. Key findings from literature include improved chulhas having higher thermal efficiencies and lower fuel consumption compared to traditional designs.
Biodiesel Cogeneration Project Waste Heat Recovery System for Biodiesel Elect...ZX7
This document provides a final design report for a biodiesel cogeneration project at Messiah College. It includes an abstract, introduction describing the project goals and needs analysis, design details for the cogeneration system and its electrical and heat recovery components, construction and testing plans, budget and schedule. The project aims to develop a renewable, residential-scale cogeneration system using biodiesel to power a generator and recover waste heat for domestic hot water and space heating needs.
Hyderabad | Sep-16 | Sustainable biofuels from large scale algal culture by u...Smart Villages
This document discusses using bioprocess technology to produce sustainable biofuels from large-scale algal culture. Specifically, it experimentally proves that combining plug flow reactors with airlift fermenters on a large scale can sustainably generate biofuels by harvesting light with algae. This process allows for continuous fermentation, biomass separation with only sparging required, and generates algal biomass in self-sustaining airlift fermenters. Algae are also efficient producers of oil and biomass and have higher photosynthetic efficiency and growth rates than plants. The document concludes that microalgae have much higher biofuel yields than other feedstocks and can use non-arable land, making them a promising
Single-atom catalysts for biomass-derived drop-in chemicalsPawan Kumar
Conversion of biomass to fuel and drop-in chemicals is envisaged to solve the problem of depleting fossil fuel reserves while leveling-off the staggering CO2 concentration. By-passing the natural carbon cycle via the transformation of abundant lignocellulosic biomass into chemicals does not add any extra CO2 to the environment and the net CO2 concentration remains the same. The paradigm shifts from fossil fuel-based chemicals to biomass-derived products will rely on efficient and cost-effective catalysts that can compete with cheap and readily available fossil fuels. Existing transition and noble metal-based nanoparticle catalysts either in the supported or unsupported form are crippling due to poor activity/selectivity, deactivation of catalytically active sites, and the complex composition, recalcitrant nature, and high moisture content of biomass. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) possessing single-atom centers decorated on support have shown great promise in biomass conversion due to their unique geometric configuration, electronic properties, and ensemble effect. In contrast to traditional catalytic systems, SACs encompass the advantages of both heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts with improved performance and easy recyclability. Because of the availability of each metal center for the reaction and unique geometrical configuration, SACs have displayed exceptional catalytic activity and selectivity (~95% in most cases). In addition, the SACs show increased thermal and chemical stability due to the stabilization of the metal center on the support. The present chapter highlights the various aspects of SACs for efficient and selective biomass conversion into drop-in chemicals.
Algal Biorefinery for Electrical Power OutputAlena Senf, EIT
This document proposes designing an algal biorefinery system to produce electricity for a home. It would involve growing algae in photobioreactor panels, filtering out the algae, drying it, and using combustion to generate steam and power a turbine to produce electricity. The goals are to optimize algal growth, design a home-compatible system, and produce electricity. Key considerations are costs, space needs, maintenance requirements, and energy inputs/outputs. Literature is reviewed on algal growth equations and production methods. A conceptual design is presented involving the photobioreactor, filtration, drying, and power generation components.
This document reviews the potential for using waste-derived bioenergy in marine systems. It discusses how biomass energy from waste can help address sustainability challenges while offsetting greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels. The document also examines trends in biomass development, including the growth of biofuels markets and potential applications for shipping. A process is proposed for meeting biomass demands that involves energy auditing, risk analysis, and a system to collect organic waste, ferment it to produce methane gas, and use the gas in a cogenerator.
The Growing Importance of Biomass in Biodiesel Production QZ1
This document discusses biomass as an energy source and focuses on biodiesel production from algae. It provides background on biomass energy and discusses some challenges with traditional biomass usage. The objectives are outlined as moving to modern biomass energy technologies to provide a renewable and sustainable fuel source. Details are given on biodiesel production processes from algae and some potential advantages are noted, such as high oil yield per acre compared to other crops. Methods for algae cultivation and oil extraction are summarized. The conclusion states that algae show potential as a bioenergy source due to using carbon dioxide and sunlight to produce biomass.
This document describes the design of a standalone hybrid biomass and photovoltaic (PV) power system for an off-grid house in a remote area. It discusses using Homer software to simulate and optimize the system design. The system combines a PV array, battery bank, biomass generator, charge controller and DC/AC converter to meet the household's electricity needs. Simulation results can help improve hybrid system designs for providing power in remote, off-grid locations.
This document discusses the design of an off-grid home energy system using solar, wind, and biomass energy sources. It first provides background on the need for renewable energy systems in remote areas. It then describes the components of the hybrid system, including photovoltaic panels, a wind turbine, and a biomass generator. The document outlines how Homer software was used to simulate and optimize different configurations to determine the most cost-effective system. The simulation analyzed factors like solar radiation levels, wind speeds, and biomass availability to predict the hybrid system's performance.
The document summarizes a seminar presentation on biomass energy. It discusses various methods of extracting energy from biomass, including direct combustion, gasification, pyrolysis, digestion, and fermentation. Advantages of biomass energy include being renewable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. Disadvantages include the high cost of construction and transportation challenges. The document also provides historical context on biomass use in India and discusses applications of biomass energy from residential to industrial use. In conclusion, biomass energy is identified as a renewable and non-polluting alternative energy source available in large quantities.
This document provides an overview of a presentation on biomass energy given by several presenters to a professor. It outlines different methods for extracting energy from biomass, including direct combustion, gasification, pyrolysis, digestion, and fermentation. It discusses the advantages of biomass energy being renewable, sustainable, and less polluting than fossil fuels. The document also provides context on the history of biomass use in India and how policy has aimed to address rural energy crises and reduce oil imports. Applications of biomass energy include residential heating/cooking, industrial uses, and electricity generation.
Extraction of Bio-Fuel from Algae by Anaerobic DigestionEditor IJMTER
The growing energy demand across the globe has instigated us to synthesize bio-fuel
from algae, a renewable resource. Algae Botryococcus braunii when subjected to anaerobic digestion
and broken down by enzymes liberate methane and CO2. The CO2 obtained is cultivated in open
ponds and are passed through a fluidised bed chamber after pre-treatment. The chamber contains
enzymes which breakdown the algal colloid into fatty acids. These fatty acids on decomposition
release CO2 that is internally cycled for algal cultivation and the methane can be profitably and
cleanly extracted. This methane can be used as a fuel in vehicles (CNG) and also in various industrial
and domestic fields, providing a low-cost solution to the global energy crisis.
This document provides an overview of renewable energy sources and focuses on biomass and biogas. It discusses the principles of biomass conversion including combustion, pyrolysis, and gasification. Combustion is the process of burning biomass to produce heat or power. Pyrolysis involves the thermal decomposition of biomass in an inert atmosphere to produce char, gases, and oils. Gasification converts biomass into a gaseous fuel called producer gas using a limited amount of oxygen. Biogas is produced through the anaerobic digestion of organic matter like animal waste or plant biomatter and provides advantages like fuel production and organic fertilizer. However, intermittency and low energy density pose challenges for renewable sources.
An Alternative Fuel by Blending of Non Woody Biomass and Coal for Use in Powe...IRJET Journal
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Biomass Power For Energy and Sustainable DevelopmentZX7
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This document outlines modules for a course on renewable power generation systems. Module I introduces conventional and non-conventional energy sources, and discusses solar energy technologies like solar thermal and photovoltaic systems. Module II covers wind energy and wind turbines. Module III discusses biomass power and biogas. Module IV examines hybrid energy systems that combine technologies like solar-wind and micro-hydel PV systems. The document provides an overview of the topics that will be covered in each module.
Renewable and sustainable energy reviewsHITESHDAS14
The document summarizes renewable and sustainable energy sources. It discusses various renewable technologies including solar energy applications like solar thermal and solar power, wind energy, bioenergy sources like biogas from anaerobic digestion, biodiesel, and biomass gasification. It also discusses hydrogen production from biomass and the use of gasifiers for power generation. The conclusion states that renewable technologies like solar drying, biodiesel, and wind energy have the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and fossil fuel consumption while providing sustainable energy solutions.
The document summarizes information about biomass energy. It begins with an introduction to biomass energy, noting that biomass is organic material from living or recently living organisms. It then discusses the concept of bioenergy, explaining how biomass can be converted into usable energy through direct or indirect means like burning, electricity production, or processing into biofuel. The document also outlines some advantages of biomass energy like renewability and carbon neutrality, and disadvantages such as requiring large areas for production and potentially contributing to deforestation. Finally, it discusses perspectives on biomass energy in Senegal, including a conference to promote renewable energies and a project called BioStar to expand energy access using residual biomass from agribusiness.
The document summarizes information about biomass energy. It begins with an introduction to biomass energy, noting that biomass is organic material from living or recently living organisms. It then discusses the concept of bioenergy, explaining how biomass can be converted into usable energy forms like heat, electricity, or biofuels. The document also outlines some of the main advantages of biomass energy, such as renewability and carbon neutrality, as well as disadvantages like the large area needed for production and potential inefficiencies. It concludes by discussing Senegal's perspectives on biomass energy, including a conference to promote renewable energy investments and a project called BioStar to expand energy access using residual biomass.
This document discusses renewable energy and green technology. It defines energy and lists different forms of energy, including electrical, mechanical, chemical, heat, and nuclear. Energy resources are classified as either primary/non-renewable sources like coal, oil, and natural gas, or renewable sources like solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal that recur naturally. Renewable sources are attractive because they are inexhaustible, have low operating costs, are site-specific so transmission is not needed, and cause less pollution than fossil fuels. However, renewables also have disadvantages like low energy density requiring larger plants, intermittency due to varying natural conditions, lower efficiencies, and higher upfront costs.
DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING OF A BIOMASS CARBONIZING FURNACE.pdfEmmanuelMatutu1
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The document summarizes information about biomass energy. It begins with an introduction to biomass energy, noting that biomass is organic material from living or recently living organisms. It then discusses the concept of bioenergy, explaining how biomass can be converted into usable energy forms like heat, electricity, or biofuels. The document also outlines some of the advantages of biomass energy, such as renewability and carbon neutrality, and disadvantages, including the large area needed and emissions produced. It concludes by discussing Senegal's perspectives on biomass energy, including a conference to promote renewable energy investments and a project to expand biofuel availability for agribusinesses.
Hybrid Biomass-Solar Power System with Establishment of Raw Material Procureijtsrd
The utilization of sustainable power sources is ending up exceptionally essential because of the restricted stores of non-renewable energy sources and worldwide ecological worries for the creation of electrical power age and usage. In remote regions, towns, it is anything but difficult to get more sum biomass. Subsequently by the utilization of crossover frameworks comprising of Biomass and PV for creation of electrical vitality in these remote regions can be more temperate. On the off chance that the advancement of a PC based approach for assessing, the general execution of independent half and half PV-Biomass creating frameworks are broke down ,at that point these outcomes are helpful for creating and introducing cross breed frameworks in remote regions This paper centers the practical thought of independent crossover frameworks having PV and Biomass for electrical generation in remote zones. Additionally in this paper a reproduction approach has been recommended for planning remain solitary network for remote regions. The normal sun powered radiation and amount of biomass required information are to anticipate the general execution of the creating framework. The batteries can likewise be utilized as a part of this framework to store the additional vitality which can additionally be utilized for reinforcement. Likewise the additional power is utilized to supply to the network. Here the reproduction is completed utilizing HOMER programming. The outcomes and investigation can used to enhance the improvement of the proposed demonstrate. Vikash Pooniya | Mr. Pravin Kumar | Dr. Deepika Chauhan | Md. Asif Iqbal"Hybrid Biomass-Solar Power System with Establishment of Raw Material Procure" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-2 | Issue-3 , April 2018, URL: http://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd11105.pdf http://www.ijtsrd.com/engineering/electrical-engineering/11105/hybrid-biomass-solar-power-system-with-establishment-of-raw-material-procure/vikash-pooniya
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Growing Renewable Energy in the Future of India: Opportunities over Challengesijsrd.com
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1. Non-Conventional Energy Systems Prof. L. Umanand
Syllabus for Non Conventional Energy Systems
Faculty in-charge : Dr. L.Umanand, CEDT, IISc, Bangalore-560 012
Category: Web Course
Total number of hours: 38
1. Biomass (3 hours)
a. Learning objectives
b. Operating principle
c. Combustion and fermentation
d. Anaerobic digester
e. Wood gassifier
f. Pyrolysis
g. Applications
i. Bio gas
ii. Wood stoves
iii. Bio diesel
iv. Combustion engine
Module Sub-Modules Hours Total
per topic Hours
a. Motivation 0.5
7. Biomass b. Energy extraction from biomass 0.5
c. Anaerobic digester 0.5(1) 3(4)
d. Applications – case studies 1.5(2)
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
2. Non-Conventional Energy Systems Prof. L. Umanand
Chapter Objective
1. To be understand the concept of biomass energy systems
2. To be able to understand the various digester operations
3. To be able to understand and build biomass based systems
Chapter Motivation
In areas where bio wastes are abundant, like in village communities.
Sample Questions
1. What is the potential in India for biomass based systems?
2. What are the different methods of energy extraction from biomass?
3. What is gasification?
4. Explain anerobic and aerobic digesters?
5. Explain the operation of the fixed dome and floating drum digesters?
6. Describe the application of biomass based energy systems.
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
3. Non-Conventional Energy Systems Prof. L. Umanand
Indian Institute of Science CEDT
Biomass Energy
In the past few years, there have been significant improvements in renewable energy
technologies along with declines in cost. The growing concern for the environment and
sustainable development, have led to worldwide interest in renewable energies and bio-
energy in particular. Biomass can be converted into modern energy forms such as liquid
and gaseous fuels, electricity, and process heat to provide energy services needed by
rural and urban populations and also by industry. This paper explains the different ways
of extracting energy from biomass and a comparison is made among them. This paper
also explains about the potentiality of biomass energy in India, analyses current
situation compares bio-energy and other options for promoting development, brings out
the advantages over the other renewables putting forth the drawbacks to be overcome to
make it still more successful. This paper analyses current situation compares bio-energy
and other options for promoting development, explore the potential for bio-energy.
1. Introduction
In past 10 years or so, considerable practical experience has accumulated in India as
well as in other developing and industrialized countries, on biomass energy production
and conversion. India is pioneer among developing countries, with significant
indigenous efforts in promoting renewable energy technologies. The importance of bio-
energy as a modern fuel has been recognized. India has about 70,000 villages yet to be
connected to the electricity grid. The supply of grid power to rural areas is characterized
by
(a) Low loads
(b) Power shortages
(c) Low reliability
(d) Low and fluctuating voltages
(e) High transmission and distribution costs and power losses
Decentralized power generation based on renewables is an attractive option to meet the
energy needs. The availability of biomass such as wood, cow-dung, leaf litter in rural
areas is more. Hence a choice of biomass energy especially in rural areas is more
reasonable but at the same time the technology is being developed to meet the large-
scale requirements using biomass.
Biomass energy has played a key role in the time of Second World War when
there was a fuel deficiency. Many vehicles, tractors and trucks used wood gasifies,
which generate producer’s gas, running an internal combustion Engine. One of the
major advantages of biomass energy is that it can be used in different forms. For e.g.,
Gas generated from the biomass can be directly used for cooking or it can be used for
running an internal combustion Engine for developing stationary shaft power or
otherwise coupled to generator for generating electric power.
The subsequent sections explain about the different ways of extracting energy
from biomass, explaining about technological and economic aspects followed by a case
study. The issue of land availability for biomass (wood) production is also discussed.
L.Umanand 1/13 5/11/2007
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
4. Non-Conventional Energy Systems Prof. L. Umanand
Indian Institute of Science CEDT
2. Motivation
There are several renewable and non-renewable energy options for power
generation at the decentralized level. It is necessary to understand why biomass-based
energy options should receive priority over other options and to discuss the advantages
to local and global communities as well as the environment.
Biomass is renewable fuel used in nearly every corner of the developing
countries as a source of heat, particularly in the domestic sector. Biomass energy
includes energy from all plant matter (tree, shrub, and crop) and animal dung. Biomass,
unlike other renewables, is a versatile source of energy, which can be converted to
modern forms such as liquid and gaseous fuels, electricity, and process heat. For
example, small-scale (5-100 KW), medium-scale (1-10 MW), and large scale (about 50
MW).
Fig 1: Expenditure on different renewable energy programmes for 1992-1997 indicating
the share of bioenergy technologies for renewables in India
It can be seen from the figure the importance of biomass energy in Indian context.
Advantages of biomass gasify energy over other renewable energy options:
1. Suitable in most locations
L.Umanand 2/13 5/11/2007
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
5. Non-Conventional Energy Systems Prof. L. Umanand
Indian Institute of Science CEDT
2. Varying capacity can be installed; any capacity can be operated, even at lower
loads; no seasonality.
3. Need for storage of energy is not required.
Advantages and drawbacks of biogas energy over other renewable energy options:
1. It can be used directly for cooking, or heating water from the abundantly available dung
and dried plant leaves in rural areas.
2. Capacity determined by availability of dung. Not suitable for varying loads.
3. Not feasible to locate at all the locations.
3. Different Ways of extracting energy from biomass
The different methods of biomass extraction can be broadly be classified as:
1. Anaerobic Digestion
2. Gasification
3. Liquefaction
(a) Solid fuel combustion
The simplest and most common way of extracting energy from biomass is by direct combustion
of solid matter. Majority of the developing countries especially in rural areas obtain the majority
of their energy needs from the burning of wood, animal dung and other biomass. But burning
can be inefficient. An open fireplace may let large amounts of heat escape, while a significant
proportion of the fuel may not even get burnt.
(b) Gasification
Gasification is a process that exposes a solid fuel to high temperatures and limited oxygen, to
produce a gaseous fuel. This is a mix of gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide,
nitrogen, hydrogen and methane.
Gasification has several advantages over burning solid fuel. One is convenience – one of the
resultant gases, methane, can be treated in a similar way as natural gas, and used for the same
purposes.
Another advantage of gasification is that it produces a fuel that has had many impurities
removed and will therefore cause fewer pollution problems when burnt. And, under suitable
circumstances, it can produce synthesis gas, a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. This
can be used to make almost any hydrocarbon (e.g., methane and methanol), which can then be
substituted for fossil fuels. But hydrogen itself is a potential fuel of the future.
(c) Paralysis
Paralysis is an old technology with a new lease of life. In its simplest form it involves heating the
biomass to drive off the volatile matter, leaving behind the black residue we know as charcoal.
This has double the energy density of the original material. This means that charcoal, which is
L.Umanand 3/13 5/11/2007
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
6. Non-Conventional Energy Systems Prof. L. Umanand
Indian Institute of Science CEDT
half the weight of the original biomass, contains the same amount of energy – making the fuel
more transportable. The charcoal also burns at a much higher temperature than the original
biomass, making it more useful for manufacturing processes. More sophisticated Paralysis
techniques have been developed recently to collect the volatiles that are otherwise lost to the
system. The collected volatiles produce a gas rich in hydrogen (a potential fuel) and carbon
monoxide. These compounds, if desired, can be synthesized into methane, methanol and other
hydrocarbons. 'Flash' Paralysis can be used to produce bio-crude – a combustible fuel.
(d) Digestion
Biomass digestion works by the action of anaerobic bacteria. These microorganisms usually live
at the bottom of swamps or in other places where there is no air, consuming dead organic
matter to produce, among other things, methane and hydrogen.
We can put these bacteria to work for us. By feeding organic matter such as animal dung or
human sewage into tanks – called digesters - and adding bacteria, we can collect the emitted
gas to use as an energy source. This can be a very efficient means of extracting usable energy
from such biomass – up to two-thirds of the fuel energy of the animal dung is recovered.
Another, related, technique is to collect gas from landfill sites. A large proportion of household
biomass waste, such as kitchen scraps, lawn clippings and pruning, ends up at the local tip.
Over a period of several decades, anaerobic bacteria are at work at the bottom of such tips,
steadily decomposing the organic matter and emitting methane. The gas can be extracted and
used by 'capping' a landfill site with an impervious layer of clay and then inserting perforated
pipes that collect the gas and bring it to the surface.
(e) Fermentation
Like many of the other processes described here, fermentation isn't a new idea. For centuries,
people have used yeasts and other microorganisms to ferment the sugar of various plants into
ethanol. Producing fuel from biomass by fermentation is just an extension of this old process,
although a wider range of plant material can now be used, from sugar cane to wood fiber. For
instance, the waste from a wheat mill in New South Wales has been used to produce ethanol
through fermentation. This is then mixed with diesel to produce 'dishelm', a product used by
some trucks and buses in Sydney and Canberra.
An elaborated discussion on Digestion and Gasification, which are the major ways employed in
India, are explained in subsequent sections.
4. Anaerobic Digestion
Anaerobic Digestion is a biochemical degradation process that converts complex organic
material, such as animal manure, into methane and other byproducts.
What is Anaerobic Digester?
Anaerobic digester (commonly referred to as an AD) is a device that promotes the
decomposition of manure or “digestion” of the organics in manure to simple organics and
gaseous biogas products. Biogas is formed by the activity of anaerobic bacteria. Microbial
growth and biogas production are very slow at ambient temperatures. These bacteria occur
naturally in organic environments where oxygen is limited. Biogas is comprised of about 60%
methane, 40% carbon dioxide, and 0.2 to 0.4% of hydrogen sulfide. Manure is regularly put into
the digester after which the microbes break down the manure into biogas and a digested solid.
The digested manure is then deposited into a storage structure. The biogas can be used in an
L.Umanand 4/13 5/11/2007
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
7. Non-Conventional Energy Systems Prof. L. Umanand
Indian Institute of Science CEDT
engine generator or burned in a hot water heater. AD systems are simple biological systems
and must be kept at an operating temperature of 100 degrees F in order to function properly.
The first methane digester plant was built at a leper colony in Bombay, India. Biogas is very
corrosive to equipment and requires frequent oil changes in an engine generator set to prevent
mechanical failure. The heating value of biogas is about 60% of natural gas and about 1/4 of
propane. Because of the low energy content and its corrosive nature of biogas, storage of
biogas is not practical.
There are two major types of biogas designs promoted in India
1. Floating Drum
2. Fixed Dome
The floating drum is an old design with a mild-steel, Ferro-cement or fiberglass drum, which
floats along a central guide frame and acts as a storage reservoir for the biogas produced. The
fixed dome design is of Chinese origin and has dome structure made of cement and bricks. It is
a low-cost alternative to the floating drum, but requires high masonry skills and is prone to
cracks and gas leakages. Family biogas plants come in different size depending on the
availability of dung and the quantity of biogas required for cooking. The average size of the
family is 5-6 persons, and thus biogas plant of capacity 2-4 m3 is adequate. The biomass
requirement is estimated to be 1200 liters for a family.
Comparison between two designs:
Fixed dome Floating Drum
Digester and gas holder, masonry or concrete Digester, masonry, Gas holder, mild steel or
structure fiberglass
Requires high masonry skills Low masonry or fabricating skills
Low reliability due to high construction failure High reliability, gas holder prefabricated
Variable gas pressure Constant gas pressure
Digester could be inside the ground Requires space above ground for three tanks;
inlet, digester, outlet
Low Cost (2 m3 = Rs.5000) Low Cost (2 m3 = Rs.8000)
L.Umanand 5/13 5/11/2007
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
8. Non-Conventional Energy Systems Prof. L. Umanand
Indian Institute of Science CEDT
Partition Wall
Figure 2: Floating Gasholder drum design (a conventional Indian design)
Figure 3: Spherical shaped fixed - dome plant
Uses of Biogas
Biogas can be directly used for cooking by supplying the gas though pipes to
households from the plant. Biogas has been effectively used as a fuel in industrial high
compression spark ignition engines. To generate electricity an induction generator can be used
and is the simplest to interface to the electrical grid. Induction generators derive their voltage,
phase, and frequency from the utility and cannot be used for stand-by power. If a power outage
L.Umanand 6/13 5/11/2007
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
9. Non-Conventional Energy Systems Prof. L. Umanand
Indian Institute of Science CEDT
occurs generator will cease to operate. Synchronous generator can also be used to connect to
the grid. However, they require expensive and sophisticated equipment to match the phase,
frequency and voltage of the utility grid. Biogas can also be used as fuel in a hot water heater if
hydrogen sulfide is removed from the gas supply.
5. Case Study of Community Biogas programmes in India
Biogas Electricity in Pure Village
In India, Biogas option is considered largely as a cooking fuel. The need for considering
decentralized electricity options and the potential of biogas is analyzed. A field-
demonstration programme was implemented in pure village in South India to use cattle
dung in a community biogas plant to generated electricity for services such as pumping
drinking water and home lighting.
Fig 4: Community Biogas Plant in Pura Village
Technology
The Indian floating-drum design shown in fig.1 with modified dimensions for cost reductions was
used. The Pure biogas plants have a capacity to digest up to 1.2 t cattle dung/day and produce
42.5-m3 biogas/day. Sand bed filters were installed to remove excess water and convert the
sludge to dung-like consistency for subsequent use as a fertilizer. The filtrate, which contains
the required anaerobic microorganisms, is mixed with the input dung. A 5 kW diesel engine is
connected to a 5kVA, 440 V three-phase generator of electricity generation.
L.Umanand 7/13 5/11/2007
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
10. Non-Conventional Energy Systems Prof. L. Umanand
Indian Institute of Science CEDT
Lighting
Out of 87 house holds in the village 39 already had grid electricity, there are 103 fluorescent
tube lights of 20 W capacity connected biogas generated electricity. Forty-seven houses opted
for one tube light and 25 houses have two tube lights. Lighting is provided in the evening for 2.5
hours/day. Even homes connected to the grid had lighting connections from the biogas system.
Water supply
A submersible pump is connected to a tube well and water is pumped to storage tanks for
1 hour and 40 minutes/day. The majority of the households have opted for private taps at their
doorsteps.
Fig 5: Table showing the statistics on Pura village
6. Biomass Gasifies:
Biomass, or more particularly wood, can be converted to a high-energy
combustible gas for use in internal combustion engines for mechanical or electrical
applications. This process is known as gasification and the technology has been known
for decades, but its application to power generation is of recent origin. A biomass
gasified consists of a reactor where, under controlled temperature and air supply, solid
biomass is combusted to obtain a combustible gas called Producers gas (consisting of
H2 and CH4). This gas passes through a cooling and cleaning system before it is fed into
L.Umanand 8/13 5/11/2007
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
11. Non-Conventional Energy Systems Prof. L. Umanand
Indian Institute of Science CEDT
a compression ignition engine for generation of mechanical or electricity (by coupling
to a generator). An assessment of its potential concluded that India presents a unique
opportunity for large-scale commercial exploitation of biomass gasification technology
to meet a variety of energy needs, particularly in the agricultural and rural sectors. The
large potential of biomass gasification for water pumping and power generation for rural
electrification was recognized.
Biomass
Internal
Biomass Generator
Producer’s Combustion Mechanical
Gasifier gas output
driving a
generator
Electric
Power
Figure 6: Block diagram of a producers gas electricity system
Top cover
Cooler
Reactor Water
pump
Air nozzle Fine Filter Burner
Blower
air
Water seal
To engine
Figure 7: A 20 kW gasifier with cooling and cleaning system
L.Umanand 9/13 5/11/2007
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
12. Non-Conventional Energy Systems Prof. L. Umanand
Indian Institute of Science CEDT
Feed Stocks for producer-gas systems:
A range of crop residues and woody biomass from trees could be used as feedstocks for
producer-gas systems. Currently, wood-based systems are available, and designs using other
low-density biomass are under development and should soon be available in India. Crop
residues with fuel potential are limited, since nearly all cereal and most pulse residues are used
as fodder or manure and thus are not available as fuel. It is important to note that currently crop
residues are used and have an opportunity cost. Rice husks are used in the cement industry, in
rice mills and in the manufacture of bricks. Coconut leaves are used as thatch and the husk as
fiber and sugarcane biogases is used in sugar mills. In Punjab, for rice-husk-based power
generation systems, the price of residues such as rice husk could increase once new uses and
demands are developed. Crop residues may continue to be used as fuel in domestic sector
assuming that cooking-energy requirements are going to be met from bio-energy options.
Constant supply of crop residues as feedstock cannot be assured over a long period on
continuous basis and the transportation of low-density residues is not feasible.
Woody biomass would be the dominant source of feedstock for gasification. The availability of
woody biomass and production potentials are discussed in the following section.
7. Case Studies of Producer’s gas electricity:
(a) Electrification of Hosahalli, a south Indian village
A small-capacity one-top wood gasified has been developed and implemented a field
demonstration program in the non-electrified South Indian village of Hosahalli. The village has a
population of 250 and was unelectrified. The farmers’ income is mainly from growing mulberry
crops, as the area is silk producing. A 20 kW one-top wood gasified was setup to meet the
demand for electricity. The plant is providing electricity to the people, who in turn have
improved the overall economy and living conditions of the villagers. The loads being served by
the power plant include domestic lights, streetlights, drinking water and irrigation tube wells, and
a flourmill. The villagers themselves are managing the power plant.
Services provided with Producer-gas electricity
The electricity produced was used for three services: lighting, pumping domestic water, and
flour milling.
Lighting
All the 42 houses were provided with a 40 W fluorescent tube and a 15 W incandescent bulb,
along with eight streetlights. Connected load is 2.68 kW. Hours of operation: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Water Supply
A submersible pump of 3 hp capacity was connected to a deep tube well. Water is pumped to
storage tanks to provide 2-3 hours of water supply per day.
L.Umanand 10/13 5/11/2007
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
13. Non-Conventional Energy Systems Prof. L. Umanand
Indian Institute of Science CEDT
Flour milling
A 7.5 hp flourmill was connected to the producer gas diesel-engine generator. The flourmill,
which operated for 2 hours/day, was operated for a few months in 1992; its operation was
suspended, as the rate of milling was lower than the desired rate by the village community due
to limitations of the 5-kVA system.
Fig 8: Biomass Gasifier Installed in Hosahalli, Karnataka.
(b) Electrification of Chhotomollakhali, a village in West Bengal
Chhottomollakhali Island in Sunderbans situated in the district of South 24 Parganas, is about
130 km. away from Kolkata. It has a population of about 28,000. The main occupation of the
people is fishing and agriculture. It is difficult to extend grid electricity to Chhottomollakhali
Island due to prohibitive cost involved in crossing of various rivers and creeks. In the absence
of electricity, the economic activities of the Island were suffering. The switching on of the 4x125
kW Biomass Gasifier based Power Plant on 29th June 2001 has changed the life the inhabitants
of this remote Island. The plant is catering to electricity needs of domestic, commercial and
industrial user’s drinking water, hospital, ice factory, etc. Four villages of Chhottomollakhali
Island will be benefited with electricity from the power plant.
Plant capacity: 4 x 125 kW
No. Of consumers: 800
Total Project Cost: Rs.1, 46, 70,390/-
L.Umanand 11/13 5/11/2007
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
14. Non-Conventional Energy Systems Prof. L. Umanand
Indian Institute of Science CEDT
Hours of operation:5 PM to 11 PM
Tariff Structure: 4.00 / unit Domestic
4.50 / unit Commercial
5.00 / unit Industrial
Energy Plantation Area: 40 hectares
Fuel Consumption pattern under full:
Load condition
(a) Biomass: 70%
(b) Diesel : 30%
Generation cost (per unit) under full load condition: Rs.2.75
8. Biomass availability issues:
Before assessing the country's bioenergy production potential, it is important to:
i. Estimate the land availability for biomass production,
ii. Identify and evaluate the biomass production options—yield/ha and financial viability,
iii. Estimate sustainable biomass production potential for energy,
iv. Estimate the energy potential of biomass production,
v. Assess the investment required and barriers to producing biomass sustainably for energy.
Different options for wood supply
1. Conservation potential of wood used in cooking.
2. Producing wood on community, government, or degraded forest land.
3. Producing wood on degraded private or farm land.
4. Sustainable harvest from existing forest.
5. Logging waste.
Consideration of options 2 and 3 involves a range of related issues, such as land availability,
land quality, competitive uses of land, and sustainability of wood production.
Some proportion of wood currently burnt, as cooking fuel would become available for the
producer-gas electricity option. Tree plantations, farm trees, homestead gardens, and degraded
lands are the various sources of fuel wood used for cooking. Among these sources, only wood
from tree plantations could be considered as easily available as feedstock for power generation.
Woody biomass would be the dominant source of feedstock for gasification. The availability of
woody biomass and production potentials are discussed in the following section.
L.Umanand 12/13 5/11/2007
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
15. Non-Conventional Energy Systems Prof. L. Umanand
Indian Institute of Science CEDT
Estimates of degraded land availability in India (Mha):
SPWD; degraded (waste) Degraded forest, Total degraded land
land quoted in PC
Degraded non-forest, 130 Mha
Total degraded land
Chambers; land available for Cultivated lands, Strips and
tree planting boundaries, Uncultivated
Total Land for tree planting
degraded land, Degraded
forest land, Land for tree
planting
84 Mha
Kapoor; land available for tree Agricultural land, Forest land, Total land for tree planting
plantation Pasture land, Fallow, Urban
106 Mha
Ministry of Agriculture Forest land with < 10% tree Total degraded land
crown cover, Grazing land,
Tree groves, Culturable
waste, Old fallow, 66 Mha
References:
1. Biomass to Energy- The Science and Technology of IISc-energy systems
2. Biomass, Energy and Environment – N.H. Ravindranath and D.O. Hall
3. Non-Conventional Energy Systems- G.D. Rai
4. www.eprints.iisc.ernet.in/archive/00002389/01/sustinable_biomass.pdf
5. www.science.org.au/nova/039/039box03.htm
6. www.undp.org/seed/energy/policy/ch_8.htm
7. www.undp.org/seed/energy/policy/ch_8.htm
8. www.mekarn.org/procbiod/huong.htm
9. www.mnes.nic.in/biogasifier_ach.htm
L.Umanand 13/13 5/11/2007
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
16. Biomass Energy
In the past few years, there have been significant improvements
in renewable energy technologies along with declines in cost.
The growing concern for the environment and sustainable
development, have led to worldwide interest in renewable energies
and bio-energy in particular.
Biomass can be converted into modern energy forms such as
liquid and gaseous fuels, electricity, and process heat to provide
energy services needed by rural and urban populations and also by
industry.
17. Biomass Energy-1
This paper explains the different ways of extracting energy
from biomass and a comparison is made among them.
This paper also explains about the potentiality of biomass
energy in India.
Analyses current situation compares bio-energy and other
options for promoting development.
Brings out the advantages over the other renewables putting
forth the drawbacks to be overcome to make it still more
successful.
This paper analyses current situation compares bio-energy and
other options for promoting development, explore the potential
for bio-energy.
18. Biomass Energy-3
Introduction
In past 10 years or so, considerable practical experience has
accumulated in India as well as in other developing and
industrialized countries, on biomass energy production and
conversion.
India is pioneer among developing countries, with significant
indigenous efforts in promoting renewable energy
technologies.
The importance of bio-energy as a modern fuel has been
recognized. India has about 70,000 villages yet to be
connected to the electricity grid.
19. Biomass Energy-4
The supply of grid power to rural areas is characterized by
a) Low loads.
b) Power shortages.
c) Low reliability.
d) Low and fluctuating voltages.
e) High transmission and distribution costs and power losses.
Decentralized power generation based on renewables is an
attractive option to meet the energy needs.
The availability of biomass such as wood, cow-dung, leaf litter
in rural areas is more.
Hence a choice of biomass energy especially in rural areas is
more reasonable but at the same time the technology is being
developed to meet the large-scale requirements using biomass.
20. Biomass Energy-5
Biomass energy has played a key role in the time of Second
World War when there was a fuel deficiency.
Many vehicles, tractors and trucks used wood gasifies, which
generate producer’s gas, running an internal combustion
Engine.
One of the major advantages of biomass energy is that it can
be used in different forms.
For e.g., Gas generated from the biomass can be directly used
for cooking or it can be used for running an internal
combustion Engine for developing stationary shaft power or
otherwise coupled to generator for generating electric power.
21. Motivation
There are several renewable and non-renewable energy options
for power generation at the decentralized level.
It is necessary to understand why biomass-based energy options
should receive priority over other options and to discuss the
advantages to local and global communities as well as the
environment.
Biomass is renewable fuel used in nearly every corner of the
developing countries as a source of heat, particularly in the
domestic sector.
Biomass energy includes energy from all plant matter (tree,
shrub, and crop) and animal dung.
Biomass, unlike other renewables, is a versatile source of energy,
which can be converted to modern forms such as liquid and
gaseous fuels, electricity, and process heat.
22. Motivation-1
For example, small-scale (5-100 KW), medium-scale
(110MW), and large scale (about 50 MW).
Fig 1: Expenditure on different renewable energy programmes for
1992-1997 indicating the share of bioenergy technologies for
renewables in India
23. Motivation-2
Advantages of biomass gasify energy over other renewable
energy options:
a) Suitable in most locations.
b) Varying capacity can be installed; any capacity can be
operated, even at lower loads; no seasonality.
c) Need for storage of energy is not required.
Advantages and drawbacks of biogas energy over other
renewable energy options:
a) It can be used directly for cooking, or heating water from
the abundantly available dung and dried plant leaves in
rural areas.
b) Capacity determined by availability of dung. Not suitable
for varying loads.
c) Not feasible to locate at all the locations.
24. Different Ways of extracting energy
from biomass
The different methods of biomass extraction can be broadly be
classified as:
a) Anaerobic Digestion.
b) Gasification.
c) Liquefaction.
Solid fuel combustion
a) The simplest and most common way of extracting energy
from biomass is by direct combustion of solid matter.
b) Majority of the developing countries especially in rural
areas obtain the majority of their energy needs from the
burning of wood, animal dung and other biomass. But
burning can be inefficient.
c) An open fireplace may let large amounts of heat escape,
while a significant proportion of the fuel may not even get
burnt.
25. Different Ways of extracting energy
from biomass -1
Gasification
Gasification is a process that exposes a solid fuel to high
temperatures and limited oxygen, to produce a gaseous fuel.
This is a mix of gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon
dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen and methane.
Gasification has several advantages over burning solid fuel.
One is convenience – one of the resultant gases, methane, can
be treated in a similar way as natural gas, and used for the same
purposes.
Another advantage of gasification is that it produces a fuel that
has had many impurities removed and will therefore cause
fewer pollution problems when burnt.
26. Different Ways of extracting energy
from biomass -2
under suitable circumstances, it can produce synthesis gas, a
mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
This can be used to make almost any hydrocarbon (e.g.,
methane and methanol), which can then be substituted for fossil
fuels. But hydrogen itself is a potential fuel of the future.
Paralysis :
Paralysis is an old technology with a new lease of life.
In its simplest form it involves heating the biomass to drive off
the volatile matter, leaving behind the black residue we know as
charcoal.
This has double the energy density of the original material.
27. Different Ways of extracting energy
from biomass -3
This means that charcoal, which is half the weight of the original
biomass, contains the same amount of energy making the fuel
more transportable.
The charcoal also burns at a much higher temperature than the
original biomass, making it more useful for manufacturing
processes.
More sophisticated Paralysis techniques have been developed
recently to collect the volatiles that are otherwise lost to the
system.
The collected volatiles produce a gas rich in hydrogen
(a potential fuel) and carbon monoxide.
These compounds, if desired, can be synthesized into methane,
methanol and other hydrocarbons. 'Flash' Paralysis can be used to
produce bio-crude – a combustible fuel.
28. Different Ways of extracting energy
from biomass -4
Digestion
Biomass digestion works by the action of anaerobic bacteria.
These microorganisms usually live at the bottom of swamps or in
other places where there is no air, consuming dead organic matter
to produce, among other things, methane and hydrogen.
We can put these bacteria to work for us.
By feeding organic matter such as animal dung or human sewage
into tanks – called digesters - and adding bacteria, we can collect
the emitted gas to use as an energy source.
29. Different Ways of extracting energy
from biomass -5
This can be a very efficient means of extracting usable energy
from such biomass – up to two-thirds of the fuel energy of the
animal dung is recovered
A large proportion of household biomass waste, such as
kitchen scraps, lawn clippings and pruning, ends up at the
local tip.
Over a period of several decades, anaerobic bacteria are at
work at the bottom of such tips, steadily decomposing the
organic matter and emitting methane.
The gas can be extracted and used by 'capping' a landfill site
with an impervious layer of clay and then inserting perforated
pipes that collect the gas and bring it to the surface.
30. Different Ways of extracting energy
from biomass -6
Fermentation
Like many of the other processes described here, fermentation isn't
a new idea.
For centuries, people have used yeasts and other microorganisms
to ferment the sugar of various plants into ethanol.
Producing fuel from biomass by fermentation is just an extension
of this old process, although a wider range of plant material can
now be used, from sugar cane to wood fiber.
For instance, the waste from a wheat mill in New South Wales has
been used to produce ethanol through fermentation.
This is then mixed with diesel to produce 'dishelm', a product used
by some trucks and buses in Sydney and Canberra.
31. Different Ways of extracting energy
from biomass -7
Anaerobic Digestion
Anaerobic Digestion is a biochemical degradation process that
converts complex organic material, such as animal manure, into
methane and other byproducts.
What is Anaerobic Digester?
Anaerobic digester (commonly referred to as an AD) is a device
that promotes the decomposition of manure or “digestion” of
the organics in manure to simple organics and gaseous biogas
products.
Biogas is formed by the activity of anaerobic bacteria.
Microbial growth and biogas production are very slow at
ambient temperatures.
32. Different Ways of extracting energy
from biomass -8
These bacteria occur naturally in organic environments where
oxygen is limited.
Biogas is comprised of about 60% methane, 40% carbon
dioxide, and 0.2 to 0.4% of hydrogen sulfide.
Manure is regularly put into the digester after which the
microbes break down the manure into biogas and a digested
solid.
The digested manure is then deposited into a storage structure.
The biogas can be used in an engine generator or burned in a hot
water heater. AD systems are simple biological systems and
must be kept at an operating temperature of 100 degrees F in
order to function properly..
33. Different Ways of extracting energy
from biomass -9
The first methane digester plant was built at a leper colony in
Bombay, India.
Biogas is very corrosive to equipment and requires frequent
oil changes in an engine generator set to prevent mechanical
failure.
The heating value of biogas is about 60% of natural gas and
about 1/4 of propane.
Because of the low energy content and its corrosive nature of
biogas, storage of biogas is not practical.
There are two major types of biogas designs promoted in
India
a) Floating Drum
b) Fixed Dome
34. Different Ways of extracting energy
from biomass -10
The floating drum is an old design with a mild-steel, Ferro-
cement or fiberglass drum.
which floats along a central guide frame and acts as a storage
reservoir for the biogas produced.
The fixed dome design is of Chinese origin and has dome
structure made of cement and bricks.
It is a low-cost alternative to the floating drum, but requires
high masonry skills and is prone to cracks and gas leakages.
Family biogas plants come in different size depending on the
availability of dung and the quantity of biogas required for
cooking.
The average size of the family is 5-6 persons, and thus biogas
plant of capacity 2-4 m3 is adequate. The biomass requirement is
estimated to be 1200 liters for a family.
35. Different Ways of extracting energy
from biomass -11
Comparison between two designs:
Fixed dome Floating Drum
Digester and gas holder, Digester, masonry, Gas holder,
masonry or concrete structure mild steel or fiberglass
Requires high masonry skills Low masonry or fabricating
skills
Low reliability due to high High reliability, gas holder
construction failure prefabricated
Variable gas pressure Constant gas pressure
Digester could be inside the Requires space above ground
ground for three tanks; inlet, digester,
outlet
Low Cost (2 m3 = Rs.5000) Low Cost (2 m3 = Rs.8000)
36. Different Ways of extracting energy
from biomass -12
Figure 2: Floating Gasholder drum design (a conventional Indian
design)
37. Different Ways of extracting energy
from biomass -13
Figure 3: Spherical shaped fixed - dome plant
38. Uses of Biogas
Biogas can be directly used for cooking by supplying the gas
though pipes to households from the plant.
Biogas has been effectively used as a fuel in industrial high
compression spark ignition engines.
To generate electricity an induction generator can be used and is
the simplest to interface to the electrical grid.
Induction generators derive their voltage, phase, and frequency
from the utility and cannot be used for stand-by power.
If a power outage occurs generator will cease to operate.
Synchronous generator can also be used to connect to the grid.
However, they require expensive and sophisticated equipment to
match the phase, frequency and voltage of the utility grid.
Biogas can also be used as fuel in a hot water heater if hydrogen
sulfide is removed from the gas supply.
39. Case Study of Community Biogas
programmes in India
Biogas Electricity in Pure Village:
In India, Biogas option is considered largely as a cooking fuel.
The need for considering decentralized electricity options and
the potential of biogas is analyzed.
A field-demonstration programme was implemented in pure
village in South India to use cattle dung in a community biogas
plant to generated electricity for services such as pumping
drinking water and home lighting.
40. Case Study of Community Biogas
programmes in India
Fig 4: Community Biogas Plant in Pura Village
41. Technology
The Indian floating-drum design shown in fig.1 with modified
dimensions for cost reductions was used.
The Pure biogas plants have a capacity to digest up to 1.2 t cattle
dung/day and produce 42.5-m3 biogas/day.
Sand bed filters were installed to remove excess water and
convert the sludge to dung-like consistency for subsequent use
as a fertilizer.
The filtrate, which contains the required anaerobic
microorganisms, is mixed with the input dung.
A 5 kW diesel engine is connected to a 5kVA, 440 V three-
phase generator of electricity generation.
42. Lighting
Out of 87 house holds in the village 39 already had grid
electricity.
there are 103 fluorescent tube lights of 20 W capacity connected
biogas generated electricity.
Forty-seven houses opted for one tube light and 25 houses have
two tube lights.
Lighting is provided in the evening for 2.5 hours/day.
Even homes connected to the grid had lighting connections from
the biogas system.
43. Water supply
A submersible pump is connected to a tube well and water is
pumped to storage tanks for 1 hour and 40 minutes/day.
The majority of the households have opted for private taps at
their doorsteps.
Fig 5: Table showing the statistics on Pura village
44. Biomass Gasifies
Biomass, or more particularly wood, can be converted to a
high-energy combustible gas for use in internal combustion
engines for mechanical or electrical applications.
This process is known as gasification and the technology has
been known for decades, but its application to power
generation is of recent origin.
A biomass gasified consists of a reactor where, under
controlled temperature and air supply, solid biomass is
combusted to obtain a combustible gas called Producers gas
(consisting of H2 and CH4) .
This gas passes through a cooling and cleaning system before
it is fed into a compression ignition engine for generation of
mechanical or electricity (by coupling to a generator).
45. Biomass Gasifies-1
An assessment of its potential concluded that India presents a
unique opportunity for large-scale commercial exploitation of
biomass gasification technology to meet a variety of energy
needs, particularly in the agricultural and rural sectors.
The large potential of biomass gasification for water pumping
and power generation for rural electrification was recognized.
Biomass
Internal
Biomass Combustion Generator Electric
Gasifier Producer’s gas Engine Mechanical Power
output driving
a generator
Figure 6: Block diagram of a producers gas electricity system
46. Biomass Gasifies-2
Top cover
Cooler
Reactor Water
pump
Air nozzle Fine Filter Burner
Blower
air
Water seal
To engine
Figure 7: A 20 kW gasifier with cooling and cleaning system
47. Feed Stocks for producer-gas systems
A range of crop residues and woody biomass from trees could be
used as feedstocks for producer-gas systems.
Currently, wood-based systems are available, and designs using
other low-density biomass are under development and should
soon be available in India.
Crop residues with fuel potential are limited, since nearly all
cereal and most pulse residues are used as fodder or manure and
thus are not available as fuel.
It is important to note that currently crop residues are used and
have an opportunity cost.
Rice husks are used in the cement industry, in rice mills and in
the manufacture of bricks.
48. Feed Stocks for producer-gas systems-1
Coconut leaves are used as thatch and the husk as fiber and
sugarcane biogases is used in sugar mills.
In Punjab, for rice-husk-based power generation systems, the
price of residues such as rice husk could increase once new uses
and demands are developed.
Crop residues may continue to be used as fuel in domestic
sector assuming that cooking-energy requirements are going to
be met from bio-energy options.
Constant supply of crop residues as feedstock cannot be assured
over a long period on continuous basis and the transportation of
low-density residues is not feasible.
49. Case Studies of Producer’s gas electricity
Electrification of Hosahalli, a south Indian village
A small-capacity one-top wood gasified has been developed and
implemented a field demonstration program in the non-
electrified South Indian village of Hosahalli.
The village has a population of 250 and was unelectrified.
A 20 kW one-top wood gasified was setup to meet the demand
for electricity.
The plant is providing electricity to the people, who in turn have
improved the overall economy and living conditions of the
villagers.
The loads being served by the power plant include domestic
lights, streetlights, drinking water and irrigation tube wells, and
a flourmill. The villagers themselves are managing the power
plant.
50. Services provided with Producer-gas
electricity
The electricity produced was used for three services: lighting,
pumping domestic water, and flour milling.
Lighting
All the 42 houses were provided with a 40 W fluorescent tube and
a 15 W incandescent bulb, along with eight streetlights.
Connected load is 2.68 kW. Hours of operation: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Water Supply
A submersible pump of 3 hp capacity was connected to a deep
tube well.
Water is pumped to storage tanks to provide 2-3 hours of water
supply per day.
51. Services provided with Producer-gas
electricity
Flour milling
A 7.5 hp flourmill was connected to the producer gas diesel-
engine generator.
The flourmill, which operated for 2 hours/day, was operated for a
few months in 1992; its operation was suspended, as the rate of
milling was lower than the desired rate by the village community
due to limitations of the 5-kVA system.
52. Services provided with Producer-gas
electricity
Fig 8: Biomass Gasifier Installed in Hosahalli, Karnataka.
53. Electrification of Chhotomollakhali, a
village in West Bengal
Chhottomollakhali Island in Sunderbans situated in the district of
South 24 Parganas, is about 130 km. away from Kolkata.
It has a population of about 28,000. The main occupation of the
people is fishing and agriculture.
It is difficult to extend grid electricity to Chhottomollakhali Island
due to prohibitive cost involved in crossing of various rivers and
creeks.
In the absence of electricity, the economic activities of the Island
were suffering.
The switching on of the 4x125 kW Biomass Gasifier based
Power Plant on 29th June 2001 has changed the life the
inhabitants of this remote Island.
54. Electrification of Chhotomollakhali, a
village in West Bengal
The plant is catering to electricity needs of domestic,
commercial and industrial user’s drinking water, hospital, ice
factory, etc.
Four villages of Chhottomollakhali Island will be benefited with
electricity from the power plant.
Plant capacity: 4 x 125 kW
No. Of consumers: 800
Total Project Cost:Rs.1, 46, 70,390/-
Hours of operation: 5 PM to 11 PM
55. Electrification of Chhotomollakhali, a
village in West Bengal
Tariff Structure:
a) 4.00 / unit Domestic
b) 4.50 / unit Commercial
c) 5.00 / unit Industrial
Energy Plantation Area:40 hectares
Fuel Consumption pattern under full:
Load condition
(a) Biomass:70%
(b) Diesel :30%
Generation cost (per unit) under full load condition: Rs.2.75
56. Biomass availability issues
Before assessing the country's bioenergy production potential, it
is important to:
i. Estimate the land availability for biomass production.
ii. Identify and evaluate the biomass production options—
yield/ha and financial viability.
iii. Estimate sustainable biomass production potential for
energy.
iv. Estimate the energy potential of biomass production.
v. Assess the investment required and barriers to producing
biomass sustainably for energy.
57. Biomass availability issues-1
Different options for wood supply
Conservation potential of wood used in cooking.
Producing wood on community, government, or degraded
forest land.
Producing wood on degraded private or farm land.
Sustainable harvest from existing forest.
Logging waste.
Consideration of options 2 and 3 involves a range of related
issues, such as land availability, land quality, competitive uses
of land, and sustainability of wood production.
58. Biomass availability issues-2
Some proportion of wood currently burnt, as cooking fuel would
become available for the producer-gas electricity option.
Tree plantations, farm trees, homestead gardens, and degraded
lands are the various sources of fuel wood used for cooking.
Among these sources, only wood from tree plantations could be
considered as easily available as feedstock for power generation.
Woody biomass would be the dominant source of feedstock for
gasification.
59. Biomass availability issues-3
The availability of woody biomass and production potentials are
discussed in the following section. Estimates of degraded land
availability in India (Mha):
SPWD; degraded (waste) Degraded forest, Total degraded land
land quoted in PC Degraded non-forest, 130 Mha
Total degraded land
Chambers; land available Cultivated lands, Strips and Total Land for tree
for tree planting boundaries, Uncultivated planting 84 Mha
degraded land, Degraded forest
land, Land for tree planting
Kapoor; land available for Agricultural land, Forest land, Total land for tree
tree plantation Pasture land, Fallow, Urban planting 106 Mha
Ministry of Agriculture Forest land with < 10% tree Total degraded land
crown cover, Grazing land, Tree 66 Mha
groves, Culturable waste, Old
fallow.